A Call To Solidarity With Africa: Welcome Address
International Conference On American/African Solidarity
By Most Rev. Dr. Anthony Okonkwo Gbuji, Bishop Of Enugu
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A WELCOME ADDRESS PRESENTED
BY HIS EXCELLENCY MOST REV.
DR. ANTHONY OKONKWO GBUJI,
BISHOP OF ENUGU,
TO THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
ON AMERICAN/AFRICAN SOLIDARITY
ON 6th JANUARY 2004 AT
DRACC EMENE ENUGU, ENUGU STATE- NIGERIA

It is with a heart full of joy that I, on behalf of the laity, the Religious and the Clergy of the particular Church in Enugu welcome you all to this important conference. I feel highly elated and honored that Enugu was chosen to be the venue for this unique conference. This choice is deeply appreciated.

You will recall that the Holy Father in his Apostolic Exhortation — “Ecclesia in Africa” of 1995 not only wished that the Church as a single family of God reflects on the role, the destiny and the problems of Africa but must also become, in matters affecting Africa, a living sign amid a working instrument of world solidarity, with the view to working for justice and peace (cf. Ecciesia in Africa, nr. 114). He called on the Church in Africa to come together in an “organic solidarity” (cf. Ibid. ur. 13!) and act in unity in matters of faith, religion, economic and social collaboration. The Holy Father went further to call on the United States of America and Europe to solidarise with the African (cf. Ecciesia in Africa, nrs. 131 to 135). The Holy Father’s call was not without cause. Records show that “nearly 300 million Africans live in extreme poverty, surviving on less than one dollar a day.

Contemporary Africa can be compared to the man who went down from Jerusalem to Jericho; he fell among robbers who stripped him, beat him and went away, leaving him half-dead (cf. Lk. 10:30-3 7). Africa is a continent where countless human beings — men and women, children and young people — are lying, as it were, on the edge of the road, sick, injured, disabled, marginalized and abandoned. They are in great need of Good Samaritans who will come to their aid.

Sometimes our continent has been called a "continent full of bad news". Ecclesia in Africa No 40 named a number of issues facing almost all the nations of Africa:

• terrible and increasing poverty
• tragic mismanagement of the few available resources
• political instability and social chaos
• urbanization: many people moving from villages into the cities
• unemployment
• the international debt
• the arms trade
• the problem of refugees and displaced persons
• population increase
• families often uprooted and facing dangers
• the spread of AIDS
• the practice of slavery in some places
• tribalism and ethnic conflict
• the craving for material possessions
• the spread of a non-religious, secular idea of life
• the negative impact of the media

The results are only too obvious: misery, wars, despair in world controlled by rich and powerful nations. Africa has become almost irrelevant, often forgotten and neglected.

We esteem the readiness of the United States Conference of Bishops in following the Holy Father's call with their  "call to solidarity with Africa". We highly appreciate the efforts and sacrifices of the Notre Dame University and the American youth who, through this conference are responding to the call to solidarity of the Bishops Conference of the United States of America. I thank all of you who here for this conference, for your resolve to objectively face this teething problem of the African backwardness. We pray that you have very fruitful deliberations and adopt principles that will not only help Africa to venture out of this misery, but also that will give hope to the African child while restoring his dignity. One of the means of doing this may be responsible investment in the continent of Africa. We are glad that you have the sobriety of paying attention to the ills and needs of Africa. Your initiative in establishing this co-operate responsibility forum is wonderful. I promise you our prayerful assistance and utmost cooperation for the duration of this conference and thereafter.

Once again, thank you for coming, feel at home and may God guide, bless and fructify your deliberations.

+Anthony Okonkwo Gbuji

BISHOP OF ENUGU