The
Family of God in the Synodal process
23.
Speaking to the members of the Council of the General Secretariat on 23 June 1989,
I laid special emphasis on the involvement of the whole People of God, at all
levels and especially in Africa, in the preparations for the Special Assembly.
"If this Synod is prepared well," I said, "it will be able to
involve all levels of the Christian Community: individuals, small communities,
parishes, Dioceses, and local, national and international bodies".30
Between
the beginning of my Pontificate and the solemn inauguration of the Special
Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops, I paid a total of ten Pastoral
Visits to Africa and Madagascar, going to thirty-six countries. On my Apostolic
Visits after the convocation of the Special Assembly, the theme of the Synod
and the need for all the faithful to prepare for the Synodal Assembly always figured
prominently in my meetings with the People of God in Africa. I also took
advantage of the ad Limina Visits of the Continent's Bishops in order to
ask for the cooperation of everyone in the preparation of the Special Synod for
Africa. In addition, on three separate occasions I held working sessions with
the Council of the General Secretariat of the Synod on African soil: at
Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast (1990); at Luanda, Angola (1992); and at Kampala,
Uganda (1993). All this was done in order to mobilize an active and harmonious
participation by Africans in the preparation of the Synodal Assembly.
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