Pope’s call: reject violence

Press, 1 May 1989, Page 8

Pope’s call: reject violence

NZPA-Reuter Antananarivo, Madagascar Pope John Paul told Africa’s frustrated youth yesterday to fight economic injustice and corruption, but without resorting to violence.

“To work for wellplanned development is a moral duty,” he told a rally of 20,000 young Catholics on the second day of an African tour.

“It is a matter of serving man in dignity, giving him the means to ensure his health, access to education and professional training and striving so that everyone has enough to live on with his family.” The poverty of the 11 million people on this huge island off East Africa was brought home by a girl, aged three, who came up to the Pope with

her one-year-old sister on her back. Both wore rags.

John Paul hugged, kissed and caressed the children, Monik and Zin, for several minutes while watching a display of traditional dancers.

He told young speakers who complained of their poverty that Africa’s youth had a duty to fight corruption and injustice but they must “reject violence, reject contempt, reject lies and dishonesty.” The Pope said the Church could offer no practical solutions to the problems of poverty, unemployment and economic development. “It is up to you, the Malagasy, to act.”

The Pope also told them the Church was not in Africa to eliminate native traditions or Westernise them.