Durban, 22 July, 2020 / 10:35 pm (ACI Africa).
A South African Cardinal has urged Coordinators of the development and humanitarian arm of the Catholic Bishops in the country, Caritas South Africa, to be bold in addressing the plight of the poor in the 22-diocese nation and “win for them self-esteem and self-respect.”
In a report issued Tuesday, July 21 by the Communication and Media Office of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC), the Archbishop of Durban, Wilfrid Fox Cardinal Napier urges the coordinators of Caritas South Africa “to be like the disciples of Christ by not keeping quiet about the misfortunes but stand strong in addressing the plights of the poor and win for them self-esteem and self-respect.”
In the report, Cardinal Napier argues that addressing the plight of the less fortunate in society “during the scourge of COVID-19” is what Caritas is called to do and recalls the Holy Father’s message encouraging concrete actions toward the poor.
“Adhere to the call of Pope Francis by promptly offering concrete signs of Church support by committing (your) material resources and personal responses to alleviate the plights of the poor and bring healing to the broken hearted,” the South African Cardinal who doubles as the President of Caritas South Africa told Caritas Coordinators during the webinar session of the 3rd Assembly of Caritas South Africa.
Speaking about the novel coronavirus pandemic that has infected 373,628 people and caused deaths of 5,173 others in the country, the 79-year-old Cardinal said, “There is need to raise awareness about the increasing infections of COVID-19 disease.”
