130.
In gladly and gratefully endorsing this dec- laration of the Special Assembly,
I wish to repeat to all my Brother Bishops in Africa what I said a few years
ago: "The Church in Africa's obligation to be missionary to itself and to
evangelize the Continent entails cooperation among the particular Churches in
the context of each African country, among the various nations of the Continent
and also of other continents. In this way Africa will be fully integrated in
missionary activity".247 In an earlier appeal addressed to all the
particular Churches, both young and old, I already said that "the world is
steadily growing more united, and the Gospel spirit must lead us to overcome
cultural and nationalistic barriers, avoiding all isolationism".248
The bold
determination manifested by the Special Assembly to engage the young Churches
of Africa in mission "to the ends of the earth" reflects the desire
to implement, as generously as possible, one of the important directives of the
Second Vatican Council: "In order that this missionary zeal may flourish
among their native members, it very fitting that the young Churches should
participate as soon as possible in the universal missionary work of the Church.
Let them send their own missionaries to proclaim the Gospel all over the world,
even though they themselves are suffering from a shortage of clergy. For their
communion with the universal Church reaches a certain measure of perfection
when they themselves take an active part in missionary zeal towards other
nations".249
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