Cardinal Philippe Ouédraogo, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Ouagadougou, in Burkina Faso, has made a plea for peace at a meeting organized by “Religions for Peace.” The peace event, held in New York, United States, was aimed, in particular, at understanding how religions can be the foundation for constructing world peace and how they can contribute to global reconciliation.
“Cooperation at the national level, first among religious institutions themselves and then between religions and state institutions, is an essential requisite for true and lasting peace in all countries and throughout the world,” highlighted Cardinal Ouédraogo.
The Cardinal also expressed appreciation for the commitment of “Religions for Peace” in promoting conditions through which people “in their diversity of identity, faith, and culture, can live in harmony and freedom, far from any discrimination and persecution,” he said. A previous attack on 7 November saw 37 people killed, in Burkina Faso, while 60 were wounded in an attack on a mining company convoy. The incident happened about 40km from the eastern town of Boungou.
Pope Francis Speaking during the weekly General Audience in St. Peter’s Square, on 13 November, made a powerful appeal to Burkinabe authorities to protect vulnerable civilians and step up their efforts to find a solution to the violence. “I encourage civil and religious authorities and all those motivated by goodwill to multiply their efforts, in the spirit of the Abu Dhabi Document on Human Fraternity, to promote interreligious dialogue and harmony,” the Pope said. Vatican News Department
