Chapter, Paragraph, Number
1 Intro, 0 | 1. The Church which is in Africa celebrated
2 Intro, 0 | the attention of the whole Church the results of their reflections
3 Intro, 0 | faithful of the Catholic Church in Africa, I begin the celebration
4 Intro, 0 | decisive importance for the Church in Africa.~
5 Intro, 0 | of that great event, the Church of God in Africa experienced
6 Intro, 0 | valuable opportunities for the Church in Africa to make its voice
7 Intro, 0 | make its voice heard in the Church throughout the world. Thus,
8 Intro, 0 | commemoration on which the Church renews her awareness of
9 Intro, 0 | great importance for the Church", welcoming, as I said,
10 Intro, 0 | Acts 8:27-39), so today the Church in Africa, joyful and grateful
11 Intro, 0 | and ninety priests, the Church, which is the Family of
12 Intro, 0 | daughters of the Catholic Church: Bishops, priests, deacons,
13 Intro, 0 | been placed before it: "The Church in Africa and her evangelizing
14 Intro, 0 | current situation of the Church in Africa, recalling the
15 Intro, 0 | evangelizing mission which the Church must take into account at
16 Intro, 0 | and challenges facing the Church in Africa on the eve of
17 Intro, 0 | responsibilities of the Church in Africa as a missionary
18 Intro, 0 | in Africa as a missionary Church: a Church of mission which
19 Intro, 0 | as a missionary Church: a Church of mission which itself
20 I, 0 | his salvation. The whole Church is invited to live fully
21 I, 0 | Africa, in whom the Catholic Church during those days found
22 I, 0 | this is the faith of the Church; this is the faith of all
23 I, 0 | through his Gospel and his Church, can save Africa from its
24 I, 0 | their faith in the "unique Church of Christ, which in the
25 I, 0 | essential features of the Church and her mission. She "does
26 I, 0 | the Holy Spirit, makes his Church one, holy, catholic and
27 I, 0 | in the communion of the Church, that they are entitled
28 I, 0 | aware that the joy of their Church flowed from the same event
29 I, 0 | promise to remain with his Church for ever (cf. Mt 28:20),
30 I, 0 | its complexity what the Church is called to do in order
31 I, 0 | experienced in many countries, the Church has the duty to affirm vigorously
32 I, 0 | confidence is based on the Church's awareness of God's promise,
33 I, 0 | more the communion of the Church as a whole is enriched.
34 I, 0 | a whole is enriched. The Church in Africa testifies to the
35 I, 0 | aspects of the life of the Church in Africa, and in particular
36 I, 0 | être is the fact that the Church can move forward only by
37 I, 0 | Bishops is responsible for the Church".19~
38 I, 0 | Special Assembly — "The Church in Africa and her evangelizing
39 I, 0 | expresses my desire that this Church should live the time leading
40 I, 0 | indicate how alive today is the Church's awareness of the salvific
41 I, 0 | penance in the life of the Church and of all humanity, the
42 I, 0 | communion with the universal Church~19. Right from the beginning
43 I, 0 | communion with the universal Church. Indeed, the Assembly always
44 I, 0 | the needs of the universal Church. Likewise, when the time
45 I, 0 | significance for the universal Church, not only because of the
46 I, 0 | individuals and communities of the Church in the other continents
47 I, 0 | communion which links the Church in Africa with the universal
48 I, 0 | Africa with the universal Church, and in order to emphasize
49 I, 0 | the universality of the Church in a striking and deeply
50 I, 0 | each individual part of the Church contributes through its
51 I, 0 | other parts and of the whole Church".23~
52 I, 0 | main question facing the Church in Africa consists in delineating
53 I, 0 | a real challenge for the Church in Africa.~It is of course
54 I, 0 | Lord Jesus entrusted to his Church under the guidance and in
55 I, 0 | relevance and credibility of the Church's message in Africa inescapably
56 I, 0 | why, with reference to the Church's evangelizing mission in
57 I, 0 | Today more than ever, the Church is aware that her social
58 I, 0 | credibility and relevance of the Church's message in Africa? That
59 I, 0 | that the credibility of the Church in Africa depended upon
60 I, 0 | unnoticed by the universal Church.~In order to make the Lineamenta
61 I, 0 | Assembly, many members of the Church in Africa — clergy, religious
62 I, 0 | talents at the service of the Church, and fervently praying together
63 I, 0 | involvement of the entire Church in Africa at all levels".
64 I, 0 | as the first step in the Church's mission "ad gentes": it
65 I, 0 | 34-35,47).~Thus began the Church's mission ad gentes, of
66 I, 0 | origin of the growth of the Church on the African Continent.
67 I, 0 | since by Christ's will the Church is by her nature missionary,
68 I, 0 | missionary, it follows that the Church in Africa is itself called
69 I, 0 | have often said that "the Church in Africa is a missionary
70 I, 0 | in Africa is a missionary Church and a mission Church".36~
71 I, 0 | missionary Church and a mission Church".36~The Special Assembly
72 II | CHAPTER II~THE CHURCH IN AFRICA~
73 II, 1 | back to the period of the Church's very birth. The spread
74 II, 1 | these first centuries of the Church in Africa, certain women
75 II, 1 | the common heritage of the Church, and the Christian writers
76 II, 1 | full communion: the Greek Church of the Patriarchate of Alexandria,
77 II, 1 | of Alexandria, the Coptic Church of Egypt and the Church
78 II, 1 | Church of Egypt and the Church of Ethiopia, which share
79 II, 1 | share with the Catholic Church a common origin and the
80 II, 1 | land, but of all the early Church. They have laboured much
81 II, 1 | directly in the birth of the Church and the work of the breath
82 II, 1 | Indeed, the growth of the Church in Africa over the last
83 II, 1 | Africa has given to the Church. Pope Paul VI eloquently
84 II, 1 | that Africa gives to the Church, the list that is its greatest
85 II, 1 | their final stages. The Church in Africa must furnish and
86 II, 1 | tremendous growth of the Church in Africa over the last
87 II, 1 | glorious splendour of the Church in Africa, the Synod Fathers
88 II, 1 | and achievements of the Church in Africa are due largely
89 II, 1 | missionaries to yourselves. The Church of Christ is well and truly
90 II, 1 | it confers on the local Church the mark of its authenticity
91 II, 1 | which makes the African Church great and holy from its
92 II, 1 | roots and growth of the Church~38. The fact that in the
93 II, 1 | the building up of the Church on the Continent is confirmed
94 II, 1 | significant accomplishments of the Church in Africa in the areas of
95 II, 1 | membership. In this way the Church offers her ministry to the
96 II, 1 | the maturity which the Church in Africa has attained:
97 II, 1 | the point of view of the Church's evangelizing mission?
98 II, 1 | express the hope that the Church will continue patiently
99 II, 1 | with satisfaction that the Church in Africa, faithful to its
100 II, 1 | the whole Tradition of the Church bears witness ... The motivating
101 II, 1 | means at its disposal, the Church in Africa plays a leading
102 II, 1 | heartfelt thanks to the Church in Africa for the role which
103 II, 2 | Present-day problems of the Church in Africa~
104 II, 2 | questions. How must the Church carry out her evangelizing
105 II, 2 | expectation, the members of the Church must first of all deepen
106 II, 2 | because she evangelizes, the Church must "begin by being evangelized
107 II, 2 | raised by "this theme of the Church which is evangelized by
108 II, 2 | not yet evangelized. The Church certainly respects and esteems
109 II, 2 | is an invitation to the Church to withhold from these non-Christians
110 II, 2 | Christ. On the contrary the Church holds that these multitudes
111 II, 2 | groups".61 This is why the Church in Africa feels challenged
112 II, 2 | of the world and of the Church passes through the family".
113 II, 3 | what resources will the Church in Africa succeed in meeting
114 II, 3 | specific role within the Church".67 For this reason the
115 II, 3 | question must be asked: Has the Church in Africa sufficiently formed
116 III, 0 | The Church's mission~55. "Go into all
117 III, 0 | essential mission of the Church ... Evangelizing is in fact
118 III, 0 | and vocation proper to the Church, her deepest identity. She
119 III, 0 | sent and evangelized, the Church herself sends out evangelizers.
120 III, 0 | Apostle to the Gentiles, the Church can say: "I preach the Gospel ...
121 III, 0 | Gospel!" (1 Cor 9:16).~The Church proclaims the Good News
122 III, 0 | martyrdom (cf. Mk 8:35). For the Church and the Christian proclaim
123 III, 0 | it now passes on to the Church of the Continent. "You shall
124 III, 0 | owes so very much",72 the Church in Africa, having become "
125 III, 0 | effective solidarity for the Church's missionary work be favoured
126 III, 0 | the Holy Spirit guides the Church into all truth (cf. Jn 16:
127 III, 0 | Entrusted first of all to the Church, the written Word of God
128 III, 0 | authentically interpreted by the Church.84~In order that the Word
129 III, 0 | greatest challenges for the Church on the Continent on the
130 III, 0 | Father too. The Word that the Church proclaims is precisely the
131 III, 0 | Christ and the Word that the Church proclaims, the inculturation
132 III, 0 | earth when they enter the Church live a new Pentecost, profess
133 III, 0 | wisdom of peoples, leads the Church with a supernatural light
134 III, 0 | whole truth. In her turn the Church takes on the values of different
135 III, 0 | raises the question of the Church's fidelity to the Gospel
136 III, 0 | communion with the universal Church ... In all cases, care must
137 III, 0 | includes the whole life of the Church and the whole process of
138 III, 0 | includes theology, liturgy, the Church's life and structures. All
139 III, 0 | possibilities which the Church's present discipline provides
140 III, 0 | The Church as God's Family~63. Not
141 III, 0 | made use of it, taking the Church as God's Family as its guiding
142 III, 0 | as an expression of the Church's nature particularly appropriate
143 III, 0 | thus aim at building up the Church as Family, avoiding all
144 III, 0 | out the theology of the Church as Family with all the riches
145 III, 0 | with other images of the Church".102~All this presupposes
146 III, 0 | expounds the doctrine on the Church using images drawn from
147 III, 0 | According to the Council, the Church is the Bride of Christ,
148 III, 0 | focused on the idea of the Church as the Family of God.103
149 III, 0 | relationship with Christ, the Church is a kind of sacrament or
150 III, 0 | either the Latin or Eastern Church, "inculturation of the liturgy,
151 III, 0 | sacramental life, fidelity to the Church's teaching must be maintained.
152 III, 0 | within the family of the Church at all levels: between Bishops,
153 III, 0 | and within each particular Church between the Bishop, the
154 III, 0 | different rites within the same Church. SECAM is to establish "
155 III, 0 | which is proper to her, the Church does not only communicate
156 III, 0 | her whole community, the Church believes she can contribute
157 III, 0 | history more human".121 The Church proclaims and begins to
158 III, 0 | with this in mind then, the Church walks and lives intimately
159 III, 0 | has been entrusted to the Church to reveal the mystery of
160 III, 0 | peoples of Africa. "The Church", they declared, "must continue
161 III, 0 | which is an aspect of the Church's prophetic role. But it
162 III, 0 | also to this world that the Church is sent to bring the Good
163 III, 0 | Bishops and priests, that the Church is sent to speak, to preach
164 IV, 1 | convoked so that the whole Church of God on the Continent
165 IV, 1 | itself. On the one hand, the Church must assimilate and live
166 IV, 1 | not only because of the Church's practice, but also by
167 IV, 1 | of Christ, which is the Church".139 Therefore a journey
168 IV, 1 | not yet evangelized, the Church is faced with the necessary
169 IV, 1 | world" (Mt 5:13, 14). If the Church in Africa makes a vigorous
170 IV, 1 | formation~75. In all areas of Church life formation is of primary
171 IV, 1 | specific role within the Church".141 This includes Bishops,
172 IV, 1 | is "the task of the local Church, assisted by missionaries
173 IV, 1 | Deepening the faith~76. The Church in Africa, in order to evangelize,
174 IV, 1 | at the beginning of the Church, acts in every evangelizer
175 IV, 1 | because of what we are, a Church whose innermost life is
176 IV, 1 | great discipline of the Church, confirmed in the course
177 IV, 1 | of the Lord who leads the Church to the whole truth (cf.
178 IV, 1 | of human relations.~The Church in Africa is aware that
179 IV, 1 | to humanity through his Church. Otherwise the world will
180 IV, 2 | of the world and of the Church passes through the family".
181 IV, 2 | them" 161 and asked the Church on the Continent to make
182 IV, 2 | Cross for his Bride, the Church. In this sacrifice there
183 IV, 2 | the love of Christ for his Church. As a sign of this love
184 IV, 2 | permanent reminder to the Church of what happened on the
185 IV, 2 | evangelization is to build up the Church as the Family of God, an
186 V, 0 | Synod of Bishops was: the Church's task in Africa is immense;
187 V, 0 | also aims to build up the Church of God, in the light of
188 V, 0 | a life nourished in the Church by the reception of the
189 V, 1 | the universal and local Church.~It is especially the concern
190 V, 1 | the concern of the local Church, entrusted to the responsibility
191 V, 1 | Fathers recognized that the Church as Family cannot reach her
192 V, 1 | reach her full potential as Church unless she is divided into
193 V, 1 | aware of their role in the Church, thereby fulfilling their
194 V, 1 | a solid formation in the Church's social doctrine, so that
195 V, 1 | implantation and expansion of the Church in Africa. The Synod recommends
196 V, 1 | witness",174 a true "domestic church",175 a community which believes
197 V, 1 | Christian family, as a "domestic Church" built on the solid cultural
198 V, 1 | particular urgency because the Church was then celebrating the
199 V, 1 | Young people~93. The Church in Africa knows well that
200 V, 1 | men and women~94. "In the Church understood as the Family
201 V, 1 | create, in the spirit of the Church as Family, mixed groups
202 V, 1 | religious life in the local Church.188~
203 V, 1 | administering the goods of the Church efficiently and openly,
204 V, 1 | ancient ministry in the Church, Episcopal Conferences and
205 V, 1 | will carefully pastor the Church which God obtained with
206 V, 2 | engaged in the mission of the Church in Africa and Madagascar",
207 V, 2 | harmonious, expressing the Church as Family, where all devote "
208 V, 2 | social backgrounds".201 The Church in Africa and Madagascar
209 V, 2 | sign of the growth of the Church insofar as their research
210 V, 2 | internalize them. They serve the Church by providing trained personnel,
211 V, 2 | questions for the benefit of the Church, by developing an African
212 V, 2 | cultural centres offer to the Church the possibility of presence
213 V, 2 | public forums which allow the Church to make widely known, in
214 V, 2 | we cannot forget that a Church is able to reach material
215 VI, 0 | heaven is addressed to the Church of God in all times and
216 VI, 0 | all times and places. The Church as the Family of God in
217 VI, 0 | heaven" (Mt 5:9-10). The Church's witness must be accompanied
218 VI, 0 | solemnly declared: "The Church must continue to play her
219 VI, 0 | achieve this effectively, the Church, as a community of faith,
220 VI, 0 | at their service. If the Church is to give witness to justice,
221 VI, 0 | and the life style of the Church".209~In what concerns the
222 VI, 0 | fundamental human rights, the Church's apostolate cannot be improvised.
223 VI, 0 | the social teaching of the Church. Each person, according
224 VI, 0 | community and the nation, the Church has both the right and the
225 VI, 0 | Here we must mention the Church's apostolate in the areas
226 VI, 0 | and co-responsibility, the Church creates conditions for the
227 VI, 0 | in public life that the Church can exercise a positive
228 VI, 0 | person is able to render the Church present".212~
229 VI, 0 | it obliges the Catholic Church and the other Churches and
230 VI, 0 | principal routes along which the Church travels together with the
231 VI, 0 | Gospel, is the sign of a Church which participates in the
232 VI, 0 | Bishops of the universal Church presided over by the Successor
233 VI, 0 | Africa in the universal Church and the world community.
234 VI, 0 | God's Family on earth, the Church should be the living sign
235 VI, 0 | be ensured. Moreover, the Church in the developed countries
236 VI, 1 | of the nation and of the Church.221~But at the same time
237 VI, 1 | 118. The Church in Africa — especially through
238 VI, 1 | of great concern for the Church, as expressed in many official
239 VI, 1 | their specific role in the Church and in society at large. "
240 VI, 1 | in the development of the Church and society were strongly
241 VI, 1 | With specific regard to the Church, women should be properly
242 VI, 1 | apostolic activity.~The Church deplores and condemns, to
243 VI, 2 | Spirit. That is why "the Church is aware of her duty of
244 VI, 2 | intra and ad extra. The Church should promote communication
245 VI, 2 | communication~125. Today the Church has at her disposal a variety
246 VI, 2 | message of salvation. In the Church in Africa many obstacles
247 VI, 2 | worldwide. In Africa, the Church has a great need for solidarity
248 VII, 0 | to Christ in every local Church, every nation, every region,
249 VII, 0 | Open to mission~128. The Church in Africa is not called
250 VII, 0 | tendency to isolationism by the Church in Africa. At all times
251 VII, 0 | missionary mandate which the Church received from Christ: to
252 VII, 0 | of this commitment to the Church's catholicity that the Lineamenta
253 VII, 0 | declared: "No particular Church, not even the poorest, can
254 VII, 0 | Churches and with the universal Church (cf. Acts 2:44-45)".245
255 VII, 0 | said a few years ago: "The Church in Africa's obligation to
256 VII, 0 | universal missionary work of the Church. Let them send their own
257 VII, 0 | communion with the universal Church reaches a certain measure
258 VII, 0 | sight of the needs of the Church as a whole. As Catholic
259 VII, 0 | great and sacred task of the Church".252~
260 VII, 0 | activity of the universal Church. Similarly, I give thanks
261 VII, 0 | maturity and dynamism of the Church in Africa.~
262 VII, 0 | established in every particular Church and in every country as
263 VII, 0 | this two-thousand-year-old Church of ours: being young in
264 VII, 0 | missionary epic of the early Church. You will also be a leaven
265 VII, 0 | 137. The Church in Africa shares with the
266 VII, 0 | shares with the universal Church "the sublime vocation of
267 VII, 0 | midst of the world, the Church contributes to promoting
268 VII, 0 | vocation entrusted to the Church by her Divine Founder, I
269 VII, 0 | the beginning' ".262 The Church in Africa is called to reach
270 VII, 0 | Unum Sint.264 Certainly the Church on the Continent can also
271 VII, 0 | ends of the earth", the Church in Africa will no doubt
272 VII, 0 | strengthening solidarity that the Church can make a specific and
273 VII, 0 | the various cultures, the Church brings them closer to one
274 VII, 0 | international community, the Church in Africa does not seek
275 VII, 0 | reconciliation".266 The Church seeks to contribute to humanity'
276 VII, 0 | their discussion on the Church's solidarity with peoples
277 VII, 0 | Precisely for this reason the Church in Africa is convinced —
278 Conclu, 0| evangelizing mission of the Church in Africa on the threshold
279 Conclu, 0| of this Assembly to the Church in Africa, Madagascar and
280 Conclu, 0| and to the whole Catholic Church, I give thanks to God —
281 Conclu, 0| convoked in order to enable the Church in Africa to assume its
282 Conclu, 0| genuine heritage of the Church's teaching and discipline
283 Conclu, 0| Prayer to Mary, Mother of the Church~144. In thanksgiving for
284 Conclu, 0| of God~and Mother of the Church,~thanks to you, on the day
285 Conclu, 0| a new Pentecost~for the Church in Africa, Madagascar~and
286 Conclu, 0| sons and daughters~of the Church~which is the Family of the
|