Libreville, 11 July, 2021 / 6:00 pm (ACI Africa).
The outgoing Apostolic Nuncio in Gabon has called upon the people of God in the Central African nation to “urgently” address the challenge of tribalism that seems to be behind divisions, blocking an authentic “exchange of charisms, faith experiences.”
In his address during the farewell Holy Mass at Our lady of Assumption Cathedral of Gabon’s Libreville Archdiocese on Sunday, July 4, Archbishop Francisco Escalante Molina said, “The Church in Gabon urgently needs to overcome tribalism, divisions at all levels, even for appointments to high positions of responsibility, so that it does not close itself up into small groups because of its geographical origin, preventing a true exchange of charisms, faith experiences and organization between all members.”
Archbishop Molina who was also representing the Holy Father in the Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville) challenged the people of God in Gabon to practice the faith they profess in the Creed saying, “In the Creed, we all profess to be ONE in the same faith. Let us put this truth into practice.”
“The Church in Gabon is rich in faith that is manifested in all the Eucharistic celebrations and in other popular manifestations of piety with great joy, with beautiful songs and dances,” the native of Venezuela said.
The Gabonese Church is rich, he explained, “in the commitment of many lay people who collaborate actively in the parishes; it is rich in the apostolic movements, in the fraternities that make the parishes live in their actions; it is rich in the parishioners who do not belong to any fraternity but who want to live their faith actively.”