Pope upholds solidarity
initiative in Sahel region
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| Herders in Niger's Sahel region |
Pope Francis recalls St. Pope John Paul II’s first Apostolic
Visit to the African continent and congratulates young people striving to bring
relief to the drought-stricken Sahel region.
By Linda Bordoni
Pope Francis on Sunday recalled the 40th anniversary
of St. Pope John Paul’s first pastoral journey to Africa, during which he
raised the alarm regarding the plight of people of the Sahel region who were
struck by drought and its devastating consequences.
Speaking during the Regina Caeli address, the Pope said that
on “10 May 1980 (…) St. Pope John Paul II gave voice to the cry of the
populations of the Sahel, sorely tried by drought.”
The Sahel region is a climate zone sandwiched between
Sudan’s Savanna to the south and the Sahara Desert to the north, across West
and Central Africa. It has long experienced a series of historic droughts that
have had dramatic environmental and societal effects, including famines. on the
Sahel nations and their populations.
“Today,” the Pope said, “I congratulate the group of young
people for the launch of the initiative Laudato Trees" explaining
that “The aim is to plant at least one million trees throughout the region of
the Sahel, which will become part of the “Great Green Wall of Africa”.
He concluded expressing his hope that “many will follow the
example of solidarity given by these young people.”
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