Bishops of nations split by conflict unite around the Pope

By Andrea Tornielli

"Together, we believe that Jesus always gives us the possibility of being forgiven and starting over, but also the strength to forgive ourselves, others and history!" Christ "wants to anoint us with His forgiveness" to "give us the peace and courage to forgive in turn, the courage to grant others a great amnesty of the heart."

When Pope Francis spoke these words in his homily at Mass at the Ndolo Airport in Kinshasa, celebrating the Eucharist with him were the Bishops of countries, with warring militias and rebel groups, that have been, and are, the scene of unspeakable violence and wars, fuelled not only by external forces, but also from forces within.

Together with their brethren from the Democratic Republic of Congo, at the altar and then at a shared meal, were the Bishops of Rwanda, Burundi and Congo Brazzaville.

Before departing for their respective countries, some of them gathered around a table in a hotel and recounted this experience to Vatican Media, explaining how their presence in the DRC, and episcopal communion, can help the peace processes.

"We are living a special moment, a kairos. We must not let politics divide us, but see what we can do together," Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, the Archbishop of Kinshasa, told us.

Cardinal Ambongo thanked his brothers from Rwanda "for coming here to Kinshasa. It took courage to do so, the courage to carry out a common mission."

His sentiment was echoed by Rwandan Cardinal Antoine Kambanda, Archbishop of Kigali, who recalls Pope Francis' desire to also go to Goma, on the border with Rwanda, a journey that was not possible because of the violence and clashes that are ongoing in that region.

With emotion, the Cardinal recalled the genocide that took place in his country in 1994, when in 100 days, at least 800,000 people were killed because of an ethnic-political conflict.

"It was not a genocide caused by others, from outside. It was perpetrated by Rwandans. By people living together on the same hills. Each hill had its own tragedy. And we can ask ourselves today: how do you live together after going through a genocide?" he asked.

Forgiveness is a grace from God

Cardinal Kambanda's answer echoed the one just given by the Pope: "Forgiveness is the way to coexistence. To coexist, one must forgive oneself. Forgiveness is the key. Forgiveness is a grace from God, and concerns everyone: individuals, individual offenders, but also families.'

The road to forgiveness, the Rwandan Cardinal added, "is compassion, realising that the other person also suffers and that my suffering is connected to his. This is the pedagogy of the Cross". The lived experience of his country, "we share it with our brothers in the episcopate. Forgiveness also allows for a pacification of memory".

"Reconciliation is the key to living together," says the Archbishop of Gitega, Bonaventure Nahimana, President of the Burundi Bishops' Conference.

"All the dioceses got involved. We must live in forgiveness to truly have open, welcoming, fraternal communities. Open also in welcoming the other as a brother, even when he is a foreigner. We have many Congolese refugees in Burundi. We will be credible through the way we live this."

Impact of Pope's visit

"We are here with a large delegation, not just of Bishops, but of people," explained the Archbishop of Brazaville, Bienvenu Manamika, President of the Congo Brazaville Bishops' Conference.

"The Pope's visit will have a great impact in the region," he said.

"Although our country is not directly affected by the conflicts, we are nevertheless involved. There is a saying that 'if the Democratic Republic of Congo coughs, we in Congo Brazzaville sneeze and catch the flu'."

"We all need peace," he added, "The ongoing conflict in the east of the DRC does not leave us calm. It is reminiscent of war traumas already experienced."

Archbishop Manamika noted that the mere presence of the Successor of Peter brings hope and concerns everyone.

"I hope that his words are also heard by the multinational companies behind the extractive industry. There are peoples who suffer from this situation. Without justice, without dignity, there is no peace." Internal conflicts, he concluded, "depend on wider interests. But when elephants fight it is the grass that suffers. And the grass is the people. That is why we must all work and pray for peace".

The need to learn to forgive and cultivate peace

"We must all build peace. With forgiveness, with the rediscovery of the community that unites us and the mission that we have,' emphasised the Archbishop of Kisangani, Marcel Utembi Tapa, president of the Episcopal Conference of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

"We must convince ourselves that personal and institutional forgiveness are linked. As baptised, children of God, brothers and sisters, we must learn to forgive each other. The Pope is well aware of all that goes on here, and how what goes on here is a threat to peace, a problem that affects the entire sub-continental region. He invited us to develop an awareness of the fraternity that unites us and that affects not just one country but the entire region. We are all called to be missionaries of peace. His was a strong appeal to states, civil society, the Church, pastors."

The courage of these Bishops, united together with the Successor of Peter, is a small great sign of hope for these tormented lands, where ethno-political conflicts involve Christians on both sides.

Pope Francis said in his homily at Ndolo Airport: "May it be a good time for all of you in this country who call yourselves Christians but engage in violence."