Pope meets Rwandan bishops, urges Catholics to remain hopeful

Published: 2005-05-23

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI called on Rwandan Catholics to remain hopeful for the future and steadfast in their faith, although they were "harshly tried" by the nation's 1994 genocide. He also asked that the Holy Spirit, during this time of Pentecost, help "make fruitful the efforts of those who are working to build fraternity among all Rwandans in a spirit of truth and justice." The pope's comments came in his May 21 address to Rwandan bishops at the end of their "ad limina" visits to the Vatican. Heads of dioceses are required to make such visits every five years. The 1994 massacres in Rwanda left more than 800,000 people dead when ethnic tensions between Hutus and Tutsis exploded into a campaign of violence. Some 100,000 people are in prison still awaiting trial for their alleged role in the slaughter.

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