Ivorian Catholic Priest Condemns Xenophobia, Calls for Promotion of Positive Messages

Fr. Abekan explains, “We are all potential foreigners because the movement of people is inherent in our human condition. The whole history of humanity is there to teach us this.”

Making reference to the Gospel according to Matthew, he says, “We must do unto others as we would have them do unto us is the condition to be reached for others and for ourselves.” 

The Ivorian Priest expresses his “sympathy and condolences” to the family of the deceased saying, “I have a pious thought for the person who was tragically snatched from life.0

To those injured in the attack, the Parish Priest of Holy Family Riviera 2 Parish prays that “they recover as soon as possible so that they can resume their activities among their brothers and sisters in this country.”

The May 19 attacks “teach us that it is important to care for one another in order to build a society based on relationships of brotherhood,” he reiterates.

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“A person and a people are only fruitful if they can creatively integrate openness to others, he further says, making reference to Pope Francis’ Encyclical, Fratelli Tutti.

He adds, “We are therefore called upon to welcome foreigners on a daily basis and in a spirit of understanding, each in the diversity of their origins and history. And we must rejoice in these encounters and mutual enrichment.”

Fr. Abekan calls on those engaging social media to “refrain from spreading divisive and dehumanizing ideas and statements and to commit themselves to promoting positive messages.”

He also urges policymakers in the West African nation to “design policies that guarantee the protection of all, the dignity of the human person and solidarity among peoples, and to fight relentlessly against all cases of violation of fundamental human rights through education, democracy and the law.”

Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.