ETHIOPIA – Cardinal Souraphiel asks for respect for life and aid for the displaced
“The government should guarantee people’s right to life, respect for the supremacy of the Constitution and ensure that peace reigns”, urges His Eminence Cardinal Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel, Archbishop of Addis Ababa, in his message for Christmas which in Ethiopia was celebrated yesterday, January 7, following the Julian calendar.
“What we hear every time happening in our country, the cries and suffering of many, the displacement, the dying of the people who are created in the image and likeness of God should stop”, the Cardinal said. The war in Tigray, in addition to an unknown number of victims, has caused the displacement of at least 950,000 civilians. Another 60,000 Ethiopians have fled to neighboring Sudan.
“We should live together as brothers and sisters despite our race, tribe, color, gender and age and moreover as one family support and help each other and stand as one”, invites Cardinal Souraphiel, who calls for solidarity with refugees and displaced persons: “Let us, in a special way, support those who are refugees, displaced brothers and sisters.
Through the love of our Lord, I encourage you to spend Christmas by doing charity”. Cardinal Souraphiel finally launches an appeal to follow the measures to prevent Covid-19, in a country where 126,241 people have been infected which has caused 1,963 deaths. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 8/1/2021)
