National Assembly asks for support from Catholic Church

Bishop Gervais Banshimiyubusa, Representative of the Council of Burundi Bishops: “Everyone is called on to identify themselves as a captive and therefore seek God’s deliverance”

The closing of the year of Divine Mercy that was opened by Pope Francis last year on the 8th of December 2015 took place at Mont Sion Gikungu on the 20th of November In Bujumbura. All bishops of the Catholic Church and some government officials notably Pascal Nyabenda, Chairman of the National Assembly have attended the ceremonies.

Nyabenda expressed his satisfaction with regard to that exceptional year of mercy provided by the Pope. “This year was a golden opportunity for the whole people, including politicians, to renew themselves spiritually”, he said.

The chairman of the National Assembly requested the Catholic Church intervention to find effective solution to the sociopolitical problems Burundi is currently facing. He called on the bishops to keep on exchanging ideas with government authorities so that there should be unity and mutual understanding among them.

One of the requests to the Catholic Church was its help in the repatriation of all refugees so that they can celebrate the Christmas Day with their fellow Burundians in their motherland.

Pascal Nyabenda also called on bishops to intervene economically by explaining to donors the necessity to supply funds to Burundi in order to find solution to poverty and unemployment that Burundians are currently faced with.

Bishop Gervais Banshimiyubusa, Representative of the Council of Burundi Bishops called on different parties in conflict to engage in inclusive and sincere talks to finally find solutions to the real problems.

“Detainees are not only those who are in jail. Those who are physically free are also prisoners who ignore themselves as Pope Francis said on the 6th of November 2016 while visiting the prisoners in Rome. Everyone is called on to identify themselves as a captive and therefore seek God’s deliverance”, Banshimiyubusa said.

The Pope offered that Jubilee of Divine Mercy to all Catholics for their sins to be forgiven especially those whose absorption falls only under the bishops’ responsibility such as killing, abortion, etc. Holy doors of mercy were opened here and there in different dioceses wherein Christians were to pass through on different occasions so as to get the indulgences of their sins. This year was also a year for forgiveness among diverse people in conflict; which Burundians have not achieved given the sociopolitical situation still prevailing in Burundi.