Burundi Catholics learn tactics to develop culture of peace

Published: 2004-06-02

NEW YORK (CNS) -- A delegation of four bishops and 16 others from the church in Burundi visited New York May 27 as part of their training to launch a program to move beyond the violent history of their country and develop "a culture of peace and reconciliation." For the day, they were divided into five groups, with four groups holding talks with key U.N. officials and the other with representatives of Franciscans International at the United Nations. Afterward, they joined Archbishop Celestino Migliore, Vatican nuncio to the United Nations, for a Mass in memory of Archbishop Michael Courtney, the nuncio to Burundi who was killed by gunshots Dec. 29. The New York visit was part of a three-week program, held primarily in the Washington area, that was to conclude with their return to Burundi June 4. Speaking in French, Bishop Jean Ntagwarara of Bubanza, president of the Burundi bishops' conference, said in an interview with Catholic News Service that he expected the peace and reconciliation program would be fruitful because the church was "working at the level of the human heart."

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