Never silence the voices of
Peace says Cardinal Ouédraogo
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| Cadinal Philippe Ouédraogo of Burkina Faso |
Cardinal Philippe Ouédraogo, the Metropolitan Archbishop of
Ouagadougou, in Burkina Faso, has made a plea for peace at a meeting organised
by “Religions for Peace.”
Vatican News – Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
The peace event, held in New York, United States, was aimed,
in particular, at understanding how religions can be the foundation for
constructing world peace and how they can contribute to global reconciliation.
Only by working together can lasting Peace be achieved
“Cooperation at the national level, first among religious
institutions themselves and then between religions and state institutions, is
an essential requisite for true and lasting peace in all countries and
throughout the world,” highlighted Cardinal Ouédraogo.
The Cardinal also expressed appreciation for the commitment
of “Religions for Peace” in promoting conditions through which people “in their
diversity of identity, faith and culture, can live in harmony and freedom, far
from any discrimination and persecution,” he said.
“Religions for Peace” can do more to promote Peace
The Cardinal urged Religions for Peace to encourage the
formation of “structures in favour of interreligious dialogue” in every country
of the world.
Cardinal Ouéadrogo’s message was particularly poignant given
recent and increased attacks by Jihadist groups wreaking havoc in his country
and those of Africa’s Sahel region.
Groups such as Ansarul Islam or Jama’at Nusrat Al-Islam Wa
Al-Muslimeen whose acronym, JNIM, means, “The group for the support of Islam
And Muslims” -an umbrella coalition of al-Qaeda-aligned fighters have unleashed
conflicts and violence in Burkina Faso and the Sahel region. The most recent
attack took place on 1 December in Foutouri, Burkina Faso.
Jihadist attackers struck as members of a Protestant Church
were gathered for the Sunday Service. Fourteen people were killed, including
some children.
Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of al-Azhar signed a peace
document
A previous attack on 7 November saw 37 people killed, in
Burkina Faso, while 60 were wounded in an attack on a mining company convoy.
The incident happened about 40km from the eastern town of Boungou.
Pope Francis Speaking during the weekly General Audience in
St. Peter’s Square, on 13 November, made a powerful appeal to Burkinabe
authorities to protect vulnerable civilians and step up their efforts to find a
solution to the violence.
“I encourage civil and religious authorities and all those
motivated by goodwill to multiply their efforts, in the spirit of the Abu Dhabi
Document on Human Fraternity, to promote interreligious dialogue and harmony,”
the Pope said.
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