Vatican City, 24 September 2014 (VIS) –
The tragedy of the Ebola outbreak and the healthcare apostolate, the
need for testimony of integrity in the face of corruption, and
ecumenical cooperation were the main themes of the written discourse
the Holy Father handed to the bishops of the Ghana Bishops'
Conference yesterday afternoon, at the end of their five-yearly “ad
Limina” visit.
In the document, the Pope comments that
“The 2009 Synod on Africa noted as a principal concern the need for
the Church's pastors to 'inspire in Christ's disciples in Africa the
will to become effectively committed to living out the Gospel in
their daily lives and in society … and to obery Christ who calls
constantly for metanoia, for conversion'”.
In this regard, he notes that “The
work of conversion and evangelisation is not easy, but it bears
precious fruit for the Church and the world. Out of the spiritual
vitality of all the faithful come the Church's numerous charitable,
medical and educational endeavours, and her works of justice and
equality. The varied services, carried out in God's name, especially
for the poor and weak, are the responsibility of the entire local
Church, under the prayerful oversight of the bishop. I think in a
particular way about the importance of the Church's healthcare
apostolate, not only in Ghana, but throughout western Africa, which
is suffering at this time from the outbreak of Ebola. I pray for the
repose of the souls of all who have died in this epidemic, among whom
are priests, men and women religious and healthcare workers who
contracted this terrible disease while caring for those suffering.
May God strengthen all healthcare workers there and bring an end to
this tragedy”.
He continues, “The Church in Ghana is
justly respected for the contribution she makes to the integral
development of individuals and the entire nation. At the same time,
she often finds herself lacking in the material resources necessary
to fulfil her mission in the world. In this regard, I would offer you
two thoughts. First, it is imperative that whatever temporal means
the Church has at her disposal continue to be administered with
honesty and responsibility, in order to provide good witness,
especially where corruption has hindered the just advancement of
society. … Second, material poverty can be an occasion to draw
greater attention to the spiritual needs of the human person, thus
leading to a deeper reliance on the Lord, from whom all good things
come. While your communities rightly make many efforts to alleviate
extremes of poverty, so too the Church is called, in imitation of
Christ, to work with humility and honesty, using the goods at her
disposal to open minds and hearts to the riches of mercy and grace
flowing from the heart of Christ”.
Finally, the Pope advises the bishops,
“Be close to other Christian leaders and the heads of other
religious communities. Ecumenical and interreligious cooperation,
when carried out with respect and an open heart, contribute to the
social harmony of your country, and enable growth in understanding of
the dignity of each person and a greater experience of our common
humanity. Thankfully, Ghana has been spared many of the tribal,
ethnic and religious divisions that have afflicted too many other
parts of Africa, a continent whose promise, in part due to these
divisions, has yet to be fulfilled. I pray that you will be ever
greater promoters of unity and leaders in the service of dialogue.
May you be firm in upholding the Church's teaching and discipline,
and unyielding in your charity. And may your generosity in offering
Christ be matched only by your humble and patient openness to
others”.
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