VATICAN CITY, OCTOBER 23, 2018 (CISA) – Cardinal Souraphiel Berhaneyesus of Ethiopia has lamented that many young people in Africa are migrating within and outside Africa due to bad governance in their countries
“The international media show youth migrating to different areas of the Middle East and Europe, but that’s 20 percent. Eighty percent is within Africa, so the great migration, displacement of the youth is within Africa. Why? Because of lack of governance and because of that we have corruption, conflicts, sometimes civil war, liberation movements, supporting this or that side. Together with that is the great trade in the world, the arms trade, which is really big business in Africa, coming from Europe, America, China, and some of developing world where they sell arms,” he said.
He was speaking to journalists in Vatican City on October 18 at the ongoing bishop’s synod on young people.
Cardinal Souraphiel also denounced harsh treatment of migrants, especially in European countries, saying, that it is against the Christian values and roots of the European countries.
“It is sad when we hear some borders are being closed to some needy people who are escaping poverty, war and conflict in Europe. You ask yourself: where are the Christian roots of Europe? Is not Europe a continent of Christian countries which confessed Christian, Biblical values?” he posed.
“In the old days, when a migrant went from one place to another, he was received well, given a glass of water to drink, some water to wash his feet, and given a place to rest. Nowadays being migrant is not easy. When many Europeans migrated to other countries in the world, they had a better chance than the modern migrants as we see now.”
The Cardinal also noted that for most youth, the top issue they grapple with is survival, as opposed to modern technology, adding that he hoped the synod will address all world youth, including those without the means of knowing what was spoken of them at the synod.
“…the Synod is still continuing, and I hope it will address all the youth in the world, not only in the developed world, but also the youth who don’t have means to hear what the Church is trying to say on their behalf. Because in some areas, let me tell you frankly, for the youth it’s a question of survival. It’s to survive first before you speak about other issues of, say, the internet age or modern technology,” he said.
