The Second African Synod – 4th to 25th October 2009 – I week

The first African Synod, convoked by John Paul II in 1994 with the theme Church as Family of God has clarified the African churchs present needs: justice, peace, and reconciliation. These are the key words of the second synods theme, which will be held this October in the Vatican. Just a few days before the second synod, Jean-Baptiste Sourou, a journalist for Vatican Radio, evaluates these 15 years of the Church as a Family. The journalist attests to how the Church in Africa has been transformed by the first synods theme, which focused on familial values in Africa. The 1994 synod is really producing concrete fruits that are tangible. Local churches truly want to become families of God — a family of God that is in the heart of society, in the heart of social situations, [a family] that wants to be leaven and to bring the Good News of Jesus to every aspect of society. The second synod is oriented towards the African Churchs response to the current concerns of its sons and daughters. Peace, reconciliation, and justice define the continents new processes of economic development and spiritual growth. Therefore, the church in Africa can only be a church that works for reconciliation, for peace, and for justice in society. To work for justice, peace, and reconciliation means to truly work towards development.The genuine value of the Gospel is thus engraved in the heart of this evaluation with respect to the Africas cultural values of the family, which currently tend to disappear due to secularization and globalization. Our cultures have great values: the value of peace, the value of justice, and the value of solidarity. However, we are losing all of this because of globalization. Well then, what can we do now? What we can do is follow the teaching of the Gospel so that it may illuminate our cultures. In this way, we can take in what is good and make it a part of our cultures, at the service of the community and, I would even say, at the service of the Church.