Ethiopian Bishops Echo Pope's Call for Peace
In response to Pope Leo XIV's appeal for the Tigray region during his Sunday Angelus, the Bishops of Ethiopia issued their own call for peace and prayer. This pastoral appeal, articulated by the Catholic Bishops’ Confer…
In response to Pope Leo XIV's appeal for the Tigray region during his Sunday Angelus, the Bishops of Ethiopia issued their own call for peace and prayer. This pastoral appeal, articulated by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia (CBCE) on Thursday, highlighted the worsening armed conflicts in the nation and their impacts on the most vulnerable populations.
The Ethiopian Catholic Church expressed deep sorrow over the ongoing conflicts in regions including Tigray, Afar, Amhara, and Oromia. "Rather than resolving differences," the Bishops stated, "war serves only to deepen divisions and multiplies suffering." They emphasized that such conflicts have a tragic toll on human lives, leading to the destruction of communities and fostering lasting hatred.
In continuity with Pope Leo XIV's concern expressed during his 30 September Angelus, the Bishops reiterated the need for dialogue over violence. The Holy Father had notably remarked, "Armed conflict never solves problems but only worsens them, leaving in its wake a trail of death, destruction, and resentment." He urged all involved parties to engage in honest dialogue as the pathway to lasting peace.
The Bishops further stressed that peace is a collective responsibility. They appealed to all people, despite existing differences, to view the suffering of others as their own. "It is our heartfelt prayer that all disputes may be settled through genuine dialogue and that all forms of conflict may cease," they affirmed.
In their appeal, the Bishops reminded everyone that the most affected by violence are often the innocent, including children, women, the elderly, and the sick. They encouraged the faithful and all people of goodwill to engage in prayer and fasting, imploring God for blessings of reconciliation and peace.
