True Synodality Entails Being for the People and Between the People
Ms. Teresia Muia
In a captivating interview with the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) and the Loyola Centre for Media and Communications (LCMC), Most Rev. Hubertus Matheus Maria van Megen, the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya, delivered a powerful message on Wednesday, April 17th, 2024. He passionately called upon church leaders to embrace collaborative decision-making, echoing the themes outlined in the Synod on Synodality document.
Speaking in his residence in Manyani Road West, Nairobi, the Apostolic Nuncio points that for a bishop to implement his duties there is need to be on the ground with the people listening to what they say and feel, otherwise his position and example will not make much difference. “You might be a very holy bishop and a very good governor but what does that mean if you do not have any contact with the sheep.” Say’s the Vatican representative.
He highlights dangers of a dictatorship leadership that does not listen to the subjects stating that such leaders will have to carry alone the load of their decisions. Making refence to Saint Augustine a famous Catholic theologian and philosopher, he says “The first responsibility of a bishop is to maintain unity in his diocese and if he cannot maintain it, it is better for him to leave.”
His excellency Most Rev. Herbertus concludes the interview by reminding the church leaders that their basic calling is to imitate Christ in their service, bringing healing to the people and enabling them to take responsibilities while upholding their dignity. “The vocation of every priest and religious is to be for the people and between the people so that you be part of humanity and not on a different level,” he stated.
This interview with the Apostolic Nuncio, comes barely a month, after LCMC was contracted by AMECEA as communication consultants to help the latter spread messages on synodality across the African Continent and ensure that the presence of the catholic church is more felt in the southern and western region as it is in the AMECEA region.
