杏MAP导航

By Philippa Hitchen

Leaders of the four main Christian Churches in Ireland came to Rome on Monday for an event marking the 20^th anniversary of the Good Friday agreement in Northern Ireland.

The event, organised by the British and Irish embassies to the Holy See, brought together the heads of the Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian and Methodist Churches, alongside some key political figures who played a part in drawing up the landmark agreement.

Signed in Belfast on April 10th 1998, and approved in a referendum on May 22nd, the accord marked a major development in the Northern Ireland peace process, helping to bring an end to widespread sectarian violence between Catholic and Protestant communities.

The heads of the Catholic and Anglican Churches, Archbishops Eamon Martin and Richard Clarke of Armargh issued a joint statement to mark the 20^th anniversary, saying that despite the current fragile political situation, they hoped the occasion would rekindle a spirit of opportunity, healing and hope.

The two Church leaders talked to us about the most important achievements of the Good Friday agreement and about their expectations for 杏MAP导航 Francis' visit to Ireland in August.

Archbishop Martin described the Good Friday agreement as a 鈥渓ife-saving moment鈥� in 鈥減eople north and south gave their assent to renouncing violence as means to poetical ends鈥�.

Archbishop Clarke said it 鈥渙pened a door away from violence into a world of goodwill鈥�, giving the peacebuilders a 鈥渂reathing space鈥� in which to work. The role of Church leaders, he said, is to model good relationships in the hopes that hope that they can 鈥渃ascade down鈥� to the grass roots.

Fears over Brexit borders

Both leaders express fears about the current climate of anxiety surrounding the Brexit discussions. Archbishop Clarke spoke of concerns that a 鈥榟ard border鈥� could reignite 鈥渇ears and antipathy that we are slowly working through鈥�.

Archbishop Martin said it鈥檚 vital to avoid 鈥済etting back into the language of barriers and borders and walls and division鈥�. In Ireland, he said, 鈥渨e鈥檙e quite good in Ireland at creating walls and barriers, we鈥檙e less accomplished at bridge building鈥�. The risk of drawing lines on a map, he added, puts us 鈥渂ack into bunkers, back into our respective corners鈥� where suspicions overtake the desire for reconciliation, creating borders in minds and hearts, which are harder to overcome.

World Meeting of Families

Looking ahead to 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� visit to Dublin for the World Meeting of Families, Archbishop Clarke said he hopes that the idea of 鈥渢he gift of family鈥� can be restored in the consciousness of all Christian traditions. He notes that Anglican church leaders, as well as the Mothers鈥� Union are involved in preparations for the event.

Archbishop Martin said he hopes the 杏MAP导航 will 鈥渟peak into our situation鈥� where so many families have been traumatized by the impact of the Troubles, leaving deep wounds. He adds he hopes the 杏MAP导航 will offer reasons to hope, as well as an 鈥渁ffirmation for the fragile, fledgling peace process that has begun鈥�