Cardinal Onaiyekan sees signs of progress, vigour in Church in Africa
By Festus Tarawalie and Christopher Wells
The history of Africa over the past forty years has been 鈥渁 tale of woes,鈥 according to Cardinal John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan. 鈥淚n fact, in many countries, things have gotten worse and worse, including my own country, Nigeria.鈥
But when looking at the life of the Church in Africa during that same time, the Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja continues, 鈥渢here is evidence of progress. Vigour. You can see a Church, an African Church, that is really making an impact.鈥
Cardinal Onaiyekan, who was in Rome for his 80th birthday on Monday, visited the offices of Vatican News, where he reminisced about his long life, including forty years as a bishop, as well as the state of the Church in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
The Church鈥檚 social doctrine: a wonderful gift of God
In an interview with Festus Tarawalie, Cardinal Onaiyekan highlights the unity of the Church in Africa, especially among the Bishops.
In the Catholic Church, he says, 鈥渨e have a wonderful gift of God, which we often underestimate. We have a beautiful bundle of ideas and values"鈥攖he Church鈥檚 social teaching鈥"which we often underestimate."
Nonetheless, it allows the African bishops to have 鈥渁 coherent voice when we compare ourselves to other church groups. Although that voice is not always heeded, it is always eagerly anticipated, even by non-Catholics, and always heard.
The Church, says Cardinal Onaiyekan, 鈥渢alks about and stresses values鈥 in a world that often refuses to take values seriously.
He decried political leaders who are 鈥渙nly playing games鈥 and 鈥渉ave no time to even start thinking of how to solve the problems of the poor people.鈥
Every life is important
Speaking of the wave of violence that is sweeping Nigeria, Cardinal Onaiyekan expresses his gratitude to Vatican Radio - Vatican News and other news agencies for highlighting the issues affecting the nation. At the same time, he expresses his concern that news reports only focus on high-profile cases, often those involving clergy, while ignoring the everyday violence that touches the lives of ordinary people.
鈥淭he truth must be told,鈥 he says. 鈥淣igeria is becoming very unsafe for everyone,鈥 not only Christians, and not only for religious reasons.
The Cardinal insists on the need for a 鈥渕inimum of good governance鈥 that protects citizens, Christians, and Muslims alike. 鈥淚 think we should do better to bring together the horror that we all should feel that life is becoming鈥 so cheap.鈥 On the contrary, 鈥渆very life is important.鈥
A vocations 鈥榖oom鈥
Asked about the surge of vocations in Africa, Cardinal Onaiyekan says, 鈥淭hat one is God鈥檚 doing, and it is wonderful in our eyes鈥 The important thing is for us to recognize that the Spirit is moving, and we should do all we can to walk along鈥 with the Spirit.
鈥淢y own conviction is that this, what I call 鈥榲ocation boom鈥欌 it鈥檚 not for no reason that God has His plans,鈥 he says. At the same time, it is important to prepare new priests 鈥渢o be able to tackle the myriads of problems鈥 they face in Nigeria and throughout Africa.
First among these is the need for peace, 鈥渂ecause without peace, nothing can move.鈥 The Cardinal is adamant that peace cannot be based on one group 鈥渃onquering鈥 another but must take everyone into consideration. 鈥淲e cannot have peace in Africa based on who will defeat whom. We have to look for a way of recognizing our common grounds and our common interests.鈥
The end of the day
The Cardinal鈥檚 visit to Rome was scheduled to coincide with his 80th birthday. 鈥淲hatever I have been able to do, or whatever services the Church has made it possible for me to perform, I have now reached the end of the day.鈥
In a meeting with 杏MAP导航 Francis prior to his visit to Vatican News, Cardinal Onaiyekan says he thanked the 杏MAP导航 鈥 and through him, his predecessors, 鈥渨ho have made it possible for me to be involved in the life of the Church at different levels and in different areas.鈥
Carrying on with humility and fidelity
Describing a letter he gave to the 杏MAP导航, Cardinal Onaiyekan says, 鈥淚 summarized much of what I've gone through as a man of the Church, and how I have enjoyed every moment of it, and how I see whatever duties or postings that are assigned to me as a grace of God, which I really thank God for.鈥
Now, he says, 鈥淚鈥檓 going back home to continue my life with all humility and with fidelity to God and to the Bishop of my Diocese.
鈥淎nd whatever I can still do, I will do until the Lord Jesus calls me home.鈥
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