To the President of Gabon (17 February 1982)
ShareOn Wednesday, 17 February 1982, the Holy Father addressed the President of Gabon* in Libreville, speaking of the local culture and the contribution the Church has made to the education of youth and the President's own support.
Mister President,
1. It is particularly pleasant for me to thank you, here in your home, for the gestures of courtesy that you have shown towards my predecessor Pal VI, as well as towards myself by coming to the Vatican to speak with the Pope. Through these visits by Your Excellency, it was already Gabon which demonstrated its desire to maintain its ever closer ties with the Holy See, and this is why by addressing today to the highest Authority of the State, it is the entire Gabonese nation that I salute, not without emotion.
2. Gabon stands out for the effort it has made, under your leadership, based on its great natural resources, to rapidly ensure its economic development. Who wouldn't congratulate him? It is a considerable asset for his livelihood and his progress, for his future. I express my best wishes for its prosperity.
This effort, which is of particular concern to the Government and the various people responsible for the life of the country, is in fact that of all Gabonese people, because the difficult task that development requires to be complete, reach every person and benefit all men, ultimately concerns every citizen. Indeed, such progress is based not only on wealth and work, but also on other values, such as those of social justice, freedom, a sense of the common good, honesty, solidarity with others. more deprived. An economic boom that is not based on such virtues would jeopardize its purpose: the promotion of a fraternal society, capable of harmoniously integrating the younger generations, the different ethnic groups of the country, and of welcoming foreigners. All this depends on the share of responsibility that each person is willing to take in society. The Church itself has its part in recalling its necessity and contributing concretely to it. It is in fact God's design that, day by day, man flourishes, thanks to his well-mastered work and his ethical sense, within his family and social relationships. It is then that the adoration he devotes to the Creator according to his conscience, with his community, expresses the obedience he owes to him. I know that, in your country, there is no shortage of examples of this successful development of the African man. We must continue the path we have traced, without tiring. And I have come to encourage you!
3. One of the characteristics of the nation is its culture.
This provides man, among other things, with a way of living, a way of feeling together.
We are happy to be or find ourselves in our country, because we experience the feeling of belonging to a big family. The culture of a people is what is original about it, what differentiates it from its neighbors, without separating it from them, and what calls it to make its own contribution to others. African culture, of which that of Gabon is one of the unique expressions, is a precious asset. She must be able to include ancestral traditions, at their best, and not fear novelty, knowing that she is strong enough to remain herself. Above all, it develops in each of the sons of the nation a feeling of pride which entails respect for others. So be proud to be Gabonese!
4. Has your country not been able to play a notable role in the concert of nations in recent years, particularly in Africa? May your action contribute to bringing the peace it so badly needs, despite the social, ethnic, economic and ideological obstacles, so that fruitful cooperation can be established from people to people, respectful of different sensitivities and centered on the major objectives which must remain those of development adapted to these countries! This is what the Holy See, for its part, is committed to, within the framework of its spiritual mission, by promoting as much as possible everything relating to peace, understanding, respect for the rights of man, to the growth, of young nations.
5. I know, and it is pleasant for me to testify here, that the Catholic Church in Gabon enjoys freedom and the consideration of the public authorities. It is true that she has largely contributed – often even taking the initiative – to works aimed at instructing and educating, ensuring better health conditions, assisting the poorest, and training for various civic responsibilities. . It is ready to continue this participation within its means, as it has done for almost a century and a half. As Your Excellency yourself kindly and timely noted, it has largely contributed to the maturation of modern Gabon.
Mr. President, the understanding and help that you have personally given to Catholic education clearly show the esteem in which you hold this role. Indeed, the contribution of the Church to the education of youth constitutes for all, with the guarantee of respect for freedom of conscience, an opening of the minds and hearts of young people to the moral and spiritual values which are capitals, as I said at the beginning. The same applies when the possibility is concretely offered to many people, as is the case in Gabon, to follow broadcasts offered by the Church on the airwaves or on television. I wanted to express my gratitude to you.
But my gratitude is especially acquired to you today, Mr. President, as to all the public authorities, for the magnificent welcome reserved for me and for all the facilities placed at my disposal with such delicacy, so that I can accomplish , in the best conditions, my pastoral visit.
God bless Gabon! And may he grant all the wishes that I have on this day for him and for his leaders!
* AAS 74 (1982), p. 629-631.
Insegnamenti di Giovanni Paolo II , vol. V, 1 pp. 567-569.
L'Osservatore Romano 19.2.1982 p.4.
L'Osservatore Romano. Weekly edition in French n.9 p.10.
© Copyright 1982 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana
Copyright © Dicastero per la Comunicazione - Libreria Editrice Vaticana
