Pope says Africa needs help to end poverty, disease, corruption

Published: 2004-06-16

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II raised a cry for Africa, saying the church needs to help the continent break free from a vicious circle of poverty, disease and corruption. The church has a "prophetic role" to play in Africa, which includes reminding the world's great powers of the human needs on the continent, the pope said June 16. He made the remarks to bishop-members of the post-synodal council meeting in Rome to discuss implementation of the 1994 Synod of Bishops for Africa. The pope noted that many Africans had called the 1994 assembly the "synod of resurrection and hope." But while the church has shown continued signs of growth the continent's ills also have increased, he said. "Unfortunately, this continent does not seem to know either truce or lasting peace. Along with international conflicts are widespread hotbeds of struggle that spread terror and devastation among the people, who want only to live in serenity," he said.

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