Prelate Urges Allowing Sense of Ownership

NEW YORK, SEPT. 23, 2008 (Zenit.org).- It is time to allow and encourage Africans to take a sense of ownership in leading the development of their continent, says the Holy See.

Archbishop Celestino Migliore, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, affirmed this Monday in an address to a U.N. high-level plenary meeting on the theme: "Africa's Development Needs: State of Implementation of Various Commitments, Challenges and the Way Forward."

"The successes achieved in the consolidation of independence, the overcoming of the ideological conflicts of the 20th century, the abolition of apartheid, and more recently the strengthening of the African Union and many other regional structures of cooperation, are a sign of hope for the potential of Africa," the prelate said. "It is now high time to allow and encourage an African sense of ownership in leading a sustained and sustainable developmental process that frees all the peoples of Africa from the scourge of extreme poverty."

Archbishop Migliore said the development of Africa is an opportunity for the whole world. He noted how it is the "youngest" continent, with 60% of its population under age 25.

Lauding recent economic growth in Africa, the Holy See representative nevertheless affirmed that "clearly there is still a long way to go in improving the health of the people of Africa."

Firsthand reports

Archbishop Migliore noted that the role of the Church in Africa's development has been and continues to be key. Drawing from the Church's firsthand experience, the prelate said "the Holy See encourages the participants in this high-level meeting to continue efforts to adapt the development programs to the reality of Africa and achieve an authentic partnership in which African countries are not simply a receiver of ideas and aids programmed from the outside, but a true agent of their own development."

He added: "The present difficulties in reaching a world-wide consensus on international trade rules could serve as an impetus to re-launch a special round for Africa and for the [Least Developed Countries], with the scope of strengthening regional trade and an appropriate way of inserting it into the international context, thus giving a substantial contribution to the reform of African structures of production.

"The purpose of a painstakingly planned and implemented international financial and commercial environment for Africa should be twofold: firstly, the creation of sufficient and productive urban employment for the young population of Africa; secondly, the promotion of and investment in a sustainable family farming system capable of meeting the food requirements of the whole of rural and urban African population and able to contribute to the trade gains of its countries."

The prelate affirmed that African governments have a precious heritage on which to build, since "African cultures have a keen sense of solidarity and community life."

"At the same time," he said, "the preservation of African families and their cultural identity must be the ultimate objective of all economic plans of development and also the definitive measure of their effectiveness."

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