By CISA
ADDIS ABABA, FEBRUARY 19, 2026 (CISA) – Against the backdrop of regional tensions, displacement, and economic hardship, Cardinal Berhaneyesus Souraphiel has urged Ethiopians to silence “chaos, false news, gossip, and earthly judgment” and instead cultivate consciences attentive to the voice of God.
In his Lenten message, the Catholic Archbishop of Addis Ababa called for sustained prayers for peace and justice, appealed for national leaders to govern with wisdom, and invoked protection from both man-made and natural disasters as the country begins the season of the Great Fast- Lent.
The President of the Ethiopian Catholic Bishops’ Conference (CBCE) urged the faithful to move beyond the external observance of fasting toward what he described as “Gospel-centered listening” capable of healing a fractured nation.
Addressing Catholics at home and in the diaspora, as well as “all people of goodwill,” Cardinal Berhaneyesus described Lent as a time of grace marked by prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. He emphasized that the season offers an opportunity for moral renewal, self-examination, and deeper reflection on the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Drawing from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the teachings of Pope Francis in his social encyclical Fratelli Tutti, the Cardinal underscored listening as the foundation of dialogue and peace-building.
“In listening, there is peace; in listening, there is rest; in listening, there is understanding; in listening, love flourishes,” he said, adding that within such love, Christ is present.
The Cardinal outlined three key pillars for the Lenten journey: purity of heart expressed through forgiveness; protection of human dignity as a reflection of God’s image; and a renewed commitment to justice guided by moral responsibility. He stressed that fasting without acts of charity and solidarity with those suffering from conflict and displacement would be incomplete.
Cardinal Berhaneyesus encouraged the faithful to embrace what he termed “true fasting” refraining from harmful speech, avoiding gossip, practicing works of mercy, and deepening participation in the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist.
