ITALY: Pope’s message for G7 forum in Pescara about the role of missionaries in Africa
HRWF with Vatican News (05.11.2024) – On 23 October, Pope Francis sent a message to a G7 event on the role of missionaries in Africa, encouraging participants to “persevere in promoting a culture of encounter.”
The event was entitled “Education for development in Africa: The role of missions”.
It was organised as part of Italy’s presidency of the G7, as one of a series of meetings from October 22-24 focusing on development.
In a letter sent to the Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, the Pope said he hoped the meeting would “strengthen the values of solidarity and humanitarian commitment of those who have at heart the cause of the least.”
The letter – signed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See’s Secretary of State – also encouraged participants to “persevere in promoting a culture of encounter, open to respectful dialogue, as true witnesses of the living Gospel of charity.”
The Pope’s message was read by Davide Dionisi, the Italian government’s Envoy for Religious Freedom, appointed in June 2023 by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani.
The Pope’s message was followed by an address of Antonio Tajani and a round table featuring a number of Italian bishops, as well as Pakistan-born professor Shahid Mobeen and Fr. Ibrahim Faltas, the Vicar of the Custody of the Holy Land.
The round table was then completed by a number of testimonies from missionary organisations which carry out educational work in Africa.
The G7, or Group of Seven, is an international organisation bringing together seven of the world’s most advanced economies. Italy holds the rotating presidency of the G7 for the year 2024, and the Pope has sent messages for multiple events that have taken place over the year so far. In June, he became the first Pope to address a G7 summit.
Photo: The Pope at St Peter’s Square (Welbo)