African and European bishops have issued a joint communique following their four-day meeting on the current and important issue of the meaning of globalization for the church and cultures of both continents. The seminar in Fatima, Portugal was part of a series of pastoral solidarity meetings between the Council of European Episcopal Conferences (CCEE) and the Symposium of the Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM).
As reported by Vatican news, In the communique, the bishops said, “Globalization is a dynamic, multi-purpose process that affects all areas of individual, family and social life, including economics, politics, culture and religion.” They noted that on one hand it “offers solidarity among nations and peoples; it can serve justice and peace, and can share spiritual and material riches locally and worldwide”. On the other hand, they said globalization “when marked by sin, as it is often the case today, tends to cause a profound gap between rich and poor, between powerful and weak.”
The meeting in Fatima was chaired by His Eminence Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, President of CCEE, and by Angolan Archbishop His Grace Gabriele Mbilingi, President of SECAM.
