INTERVIEW: Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich of Luxembourg, a member of the pope’s Council of Cardinals, visited Benin August 17-19. During his stay, he participated in the 70th national Marian pilgrimage at the Our Lady of Arigbo Sanctuary of Peace and Unity in Dassa-Zoumè.
La Croix International: Why did you agree to participate in this Marian pilgrimage on African soil, and what message do you bring?
Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich: First, I wanted to get to know Africa better. What I saw during my previous visit truly amazed me: a church that is alive and full of faith. Secondly, I am also here to learn. I am looking at this church as a pastor from a European Church to see how we can move forward in the future. Finally, I naturally have a deep love for Mary. I come here as a pilgrim and am happy to be with so many people making this pilgrimage, carrying their entire lives, prayers, concerns, and joys in their hearts to entrust them to Mother Mary. I want to do the same.
My message is the same as the one the bishops of Benin wanted to emphasize during this pilgrimage because they are the true shepherds of this church: unity and peace, a peace founded on justice, a peace that touches the heart of each person and extends to the regions, families, the country, and the entire African continent.
If we love God, we must also love our neighbor. And this love requires respect for others and justice, which sometimes needs to be demanded. Mary is a mother who wants all her children to be happy. We are her children. All of us, the Christian people, the baptized from all continents, have been entrusted to her. And because she knows the heart of her Son, Mary wants us all to be equal, cultivating love and justice in unity.
As the general rapporteur of the first session of the Synod on Synodality, how do you view Africa’s participation in this synodal journey launched by Pope Francis in October 2021?
It is a significant participation. The church in Africa is a church that knows its own value and is not afraid to speak. In the context of synodality, my role as general rapporteur is to ensure that everyone is heard, that there are no political machinations within the church, but that all the people of God, from all continents, are listened to and that the entire church can journey together.
In this regard, I recall the image of the “church-family” that was widely discussed during the Continental Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2023 as a prelude to the 1st session of the Synod in Rome. It is a beautiful image of the church chosen in Africa, and I think we in Europe can also learn something from it.
What can the church in Africa offer to the universal church today?
Joy because celebrations in Europe are sometimes very dull. People do not always participate with their hearts. It becomes merely a ceremony, a rite. However, here in Africa, what is done is magnificent. Even the pilgrimage I am attending shows this participation and deep faith in Africa.
In Europe, we speak more of tradition than of faith. But tradition is only understood when there is faith to interpret it. So, it is beautiful to see the faith as it is lived in Africa.
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