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Africae Munus Pope Benedict POST-SYNODAL APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION AFRICAE MUNUS OF HIS HOLINESS POPE BENEDICT XVI TO THE BISHOPS, CLERGY, CONSECRATED PERSONS AND THE LAY FAITHFUL ON THE CHURCH IN AFRICA IN SERVICE TO RECONCILIATION, JUSTICE AND PEACE “You are the salt of the earth … You are the light of the world” (Mt 5:13-14) LIBRERIA EDITRICE VATICANA VATICAN CITY INTRODUCTION 1. FRICA’S COMMITMENT to the Lord Jesus AChrist is a precious treasure which I entrust at the beginning of this third millennium to the bishops, priests, permanent deacons, con- secrated persons, catechists and lay faithful of that beloved continent and its neighbouring islands. Through this mission, Africa is led to explore its Christian vocation more deeply; it is called, in the name of Jesus, to live reconciliation between in- dividuals and communities and to promote peace and justice in truth for all. 2. It was my wish that the Second Special As- sembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops, held from 4 to 25 October 2009, should continue the work of the 1994 Assembly, “which was intended to be an occasion of hope and resurrection, at the very moment when human events seemed to be tempting Africa to discouragement and despair.” 1 The Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in Africa of my predecessor, Blessed John Paul II, brought together the pastoral insights and propos- als of the Synod Fathers for a new evangelization 1 JOHN PAUL II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Ec- clesia in Africa (14 September 1995), 1: AAS 88 (1996), 5. 3 of the African continent. It was appropriate, ten years into this third millennium, to rekindle our faith and hope, so as to help build a reconciled Africa by pursuing the paths of truth and jus- tice, love and peace (cf. Ps 85:11). In union with the Synod Fathers, I recall that “unless the Lord build the house, in vain do its builders labour” (Ps 127:1). 3. Exceptional ecclesial vitality and a theologi- cal understanding of the Church as God’s Family2 were the most visible results of the 1994 Synod. To give a new impulse, fi lled with evangelical hope and charity, to the Church of God on the African continent and the neighbouring islands, I thought it necessary to convoke a Second Synodal Assem- bly. Sustained by the daily invocation of the Holy Spirit and the prayers of countless members of the faithful, the Synod sessions bore fruit which I would like to transmit through this document to the universal Church, and in a particular way to the Church in Africa,3 that she may truly be the “salt of the earth” and “light of the world” (cf. Mt 5:13-14).4 Inspired by “faith working through love” (Gal 5:6), the Church seeks to offer the fruits of love: reconciliation, peace and justice (cf. 1 Cor 13:4-7). This is her specifi c mission. 2 Cf. FIRST SPECIAL ASSEMBLY FOR AFRICA OF THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS, Final Message (6 May 1994), 24-25; JOHN PAUL II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in Africa (14 Sep- tember 1995), 63: AAS 88 (1996), 39-40. 3 Cf. SECOND SPECIAL ASSEMBLY FOR AFRICA OF THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS, Propositio 1. 4 Cf. Propositio 2. 4 4. I was impressed by the quality of the speech- es given by the Synod Fathers and the others who spoke at the sessions. Their realistic and far-sighted contributions demonstrated the Christian matu- rity of the continent. They were not afraid to face the truth and they sought to refl ect sincerely on possible solutions to the problems facing their particular Churches and the universal Church. They also recognized that the blessings of God, the Father of all, are beyond counting. God never abandons his people. I see no need to dwell at length on the various socio-political, ethnic, eco- nomic or ecological situations that Africans face daily and that cannot be ignored. Africans know better than anyone else how diffi cult, disturbing and even tragic these situations can very often be. I pay tribute to Africans and to all the Christians of that continent who face these situations with courage and dignity. Rightly, they want this dignity to be recognized and respected. I can assure them that the Church loves and respects Africa. 5. In the face of the many challenges that Af- rica seeks to address in order to become more and more a land of promise, the Church, like Israel, could easily fall prey to discouragement; yet our forebears in the faith have shown us the correct attitude to adopt. Moses, the Lord’s servant, “by faith ... persevered as though he saw him who is invisible” (Heb 11:27). As the author of the Letter to the Hebrews reminds us: “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not 5 seen” (11:1). For this reason I call upon the whole Church to look to Africa with faith and hope. Je- sus Christ, who invites us to be “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” (Mt 5:13-14), offers us the power of the Spirit to help us come ever closer to attaining this ideal. 6. It was my intention that Christ’s words: “You are the salt of the earth ... you are the light of the world”, would be the unifying theme of the Synod and also of the post-synodal period. When I spoke in Yaoundé to all the faithful of Africa, I said this: “In Jesus, some two thousand years ago, God him- self brought salt and light to Africa. From that time on, the seed of his presence was buried deep within the hearts of the people of this dear conti- nent, and it has blossomed gradually, beyond and within the vicissitudes of its human history.” 5 7. The Exhortation Ecclesia in Africa made its own the idea of “the Church as God’s Family”, which the Synod Fathers “acknowledged … as an expression of the Church’s nature particularly ap- propriate for Africa. For this image emphasizes care for others, solidarity, warmth in human rela- tionships, acceptance, dialogue and trust.” 6 The Exhortation invited Christian families in Africa to 5 BENEDICT XVI, Address to Members of the Special Council for Africa of the Synod of Bishops (Yaoundé, 19 March 2009): AAS 101 (2009), 310. 6 JOHN PAUL II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Ec- clesia in Africa (14 September 1995), 63: AAS 88 (1996), 39-40. 6 become “domestic churches”7 so as to help their respective communities to recognize that they be- long to one single Body. This image is important not only for the Church in Africa, but also for the universal Church at a time when the family is under threat from those who seek to banish God from our lives. To deprive the African continent of God would be to make it die a slow death, by taking away its very soul. 8. Within the Church’s living tradition and follow- ing the desire expressed in the Exhortation Ecclesia in Africa, 8 to see the Church as a family and a fra- ternity is to recover one aspect of her heritage. In this community where Jesus Christ, “the fi rst-born among many brethren” (Rom 8:29), reconciled all people with God the Father (cf. Eph 2:14-18) and bestowed the Holy Spirit (cf. Jn 20:22), the Church for her part becomes the bearer of the Good News that every human person is a child of God. She is called to transmit this message to all humanity by proclaiming the salvation won for us by Christ, by celebrating our communion with God and by liv- ing in fraternal solidarity. 9. Africa’s memory is painfully scarred as a result of fratricidal confl icts between ethnic groups, the 7 Cf. No. 92: AAS 88 (1996), 57-58; cf. SECOND VATICAN ECUMENICAL COUNCIL, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, 11; Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity Ap- ostolicam Actuositatem, 11; JOHN PAUL II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris Consortio (22 November 1981), 21: AAS 74 (1982), 104-106. 8 Cf. No. 63: AAS 88 (1996), 39-40. 7 slave trade and colonization. Today too, the conti- nent has to cope with rivalries and with new forms of enslavement and colonization. The First Special Assembly likened it to the victim of robbers, left to die by the roadside (cf. Lk 10:25-37). This is why it was possible to speak of the “marginalization” of Africa. A tradition born on African soil identifi es the Good Samaritan with the Lord Jesus himself, and issues an invitation to hope. It was Clement of Alexandria who wrote: “Who, more than he, took pity on us, when by the princes of darkness we were all but mortally wounded by our fears, lusts, passions, pains, deceits and pleasures? Of these wounds, the only physician is Jesus.” 9 There are thus many reasons for hope and gratitude. For example, despite the great pandemics which deci- mate its population – such as malaria, AIDS, tu- berculosis and others – diseases which medical sci- ence is still struggling to eliminate once and for all, Africa maintains its joie de vivre, celebrating God’s gift of life by welcoming children for the increase of the family circle and the human community. I also see grounds for hope in Africa’s rich intellec- tual, cultural and religious heritage. Africa wishes to preserve this, to deepen it and to share it with the world. By doing so, it will make an important and positive contribution.
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