Advertisement

Catholic Bishop of Manzini, Eswatini, Visits “petrol bombed” Primary School Library, Prays

Destroyed Library of St. Elizabeth Primary School. Credit: Manzini Diocese/Facebook

The Catholic Bishop of Manzini, the only Diocese in the Kingdom of Eswatini, has visited St. Elizabeth Primary School after the institution’s library was reportedly “petrol bombed” on Monday, April 4.

In a statement issued Wednesday, April 6, Bishop José Luis Ponce de León provides details about the incident and expresses his spiritual solidarity with “all those who have been traumatized by the experience.”

“The evening of Monday 04 April, St Elizabeth Primary School's library (Majembeni) was petrol bombed. This morning I visited the place and prayed with the school's staff,” Bishop Ponce de León says in the statement obtained by ACI Africa.

Credit: Manzini Diocese/Facebook

He adds, “We do not know who is responsible for this. We do not know the reason why it was done.”

Advertisement

“It is difficult to know who benefits from this. We do know who pays the consequences: the children,” the member of Consolata Missionaries says in his April 6 statement.

He notes that “it is always the poor and the most vulnerable who suffer most the consequences of violence.”

“Violence can only generate more violence. It does not matter where it comes from nor who inflicts it. Jesus chose to break the cycle of violence on the cross. Those who follow him, do the same,” the Catholic Bishop says.

Credit: Manzini Diocese/Facebook

He continues, “Jesus' tears over Jerusalem naturally come back to our hearts and minds. Jesus continues to cry over these ‘new Jerusalems’ unable to find the way to peace.”

More in Africa

“We pray for all those who have been traumatized by this experience and live in fear,” Bishop Ponce de León says.

He implores, “Blessed are the peacemakers, they shall be recognized as children of God. Peacemakers - not just peaceful - are desperately needed.”

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.