ROME - "Pope Francis’ journey is a great opportunity for a continent that is building its future and that, with so much difficulty, is fully becoming one of the major global players”. The president of the Community of Sant'Egidio, Marco Impagliazzo, defines the visit, which will begin tomorrow in Africa, as "precious and full of challenges" not only for the Church but for all: "He chose to travel to three countries, such as Kenya and Uganda that live development prospects and the Central Africa that is trying to get out of a situation of conflict and of the threat of terrorism, but that look with hope to a future of growth, both social and economic.
Our Communities, present in Africa for many years - also in the three countries that will be visited - and friends of the poor, especially children, the elderly and people with AIDS, crowd around Pope Francis. In these days we will have to look at the world from the suburbs, and to turn them into the centre of our interests. The trip is also an appeal not to drop the high demand for peace that rises from the African lands and that asks us to multiply the work of all for dialogue and coexistence between various ethnic groups and religions". |