Cardinal Parolin: 'Africa is a land of hope'

By Stanislas Kambashi, SJ - Vatican City

A "moment of joy," reaffirming the need for our "personal" commitment...

This is how Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, described to Vatican Media the Eucharistic celebration he presided over Monday afternoon, 27 May, in Rome's Marian Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore on the occasion of the 61st Africa Day.

Present were the Ambassadors of the African Group to the Holy See, the resident African diplomatic missions accredited to the Italian Republic, and the permanent African representations accredited to the United Nations FAO/WFP/IFAD. Also attending were African prelates from the Roman Curia and African priests in Italy.

The Mass commemorated the first African Ambassador to the Holy See, His Excellency, Antonio Manuel N'Vunda, who was buried in the crypt of the Basilica in January 1608. Before the liturgy, two wreaths of flowers were placed respectively on the tomb of Pope Paul V in the Pauline Chapel and on N’Vunda’s tomb.

Challenges and hopes

In his homily, Cardinal Parolin cited the words about Africa from Benedict XVI and, before him, St. John Paul II in the post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in Africa in 1995, highlighting the continent’s challenges, difficulties, and "contrasts" but also its aspects of hope.

"This celebration has a personal aspect for me because I feel close to Africa," the Cardinal told Vatican Radio - Vatican News on the sidelines of the celebration, recalling, "I have been able to visit several countries over the years and have had contact with both the Church and governments and authorities."

"For me," he shared, "it is a moment of joy to be here and share in the joy and prayer."

The need for International Community support

"I believe," added the Secretary of State, "that Africa must succeed on its own; it has the strength, it has the resources, it has wealth of all kinds, but it also needs sincere friends from the international community who work for the people, for peace, for reconciliation, and for development."

International community support, Cardinal Parolin emphasized, is necessary because the continent "finds itself in very difficult situations" amid many "very violent conflicts that cause much suffering to many people."

"Just think of the East of Congo," he said.

While the Cardinal expressed his conviction "that there is a possibility to emerge," he recognized that "the principle is always the same: the people and their well-being must be put first."

"If material interests are prioritized, then certainly people are sacrificed, and there is no chance for peace," he said. "However, if there is justice, if there is access for everyone to even material wealth—and this is the task of both local authorities and the international community," he added, "then things can improve."

The help of the Holy See

From its part, Cardinal Parolin reassured, "The Holy See helps at the level of the African Church because we are one family, and also through the Nunciatures and through the direct interest that the Pope shows towards Africa."

"Where we can," he insisted, "we try to lend a hand."

World Africa Day

The peoples of the African continent celebrate World Africa Day on May 25, because on this date the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) agreements were signed in 1963, symbolizing the entire continent's struggle for liberation, development, and economic and social progress, as well as the promotion and exploitation of Africa's cultural wealth. 

The OAU was an intergovernmental organization established on 25 May 1963 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with 33 signatory governments. The African Union (AU) was officially launched in July 2002 in Durban, South Africa, following a decision in September 1999 by OAU, its predecessor to create a new continental organisation to build on its work.

The date of May 25 has a twofold evocative power. First, it commemoratively, recalls the early moments of the OAU. Second, it, geopolitically and institutionally, constantly raises questions about the individual and collective capacity to build the Africa envisioned by the founding fathers.

The Day has thus become a deeply rooted tradition in all African countries and is an opportunity for African diplomatic missions accredited to the Holy See to organize events aimed at raising awareness of the continent's role in the world.