By John Ikani
The Bishop of Rome and Head of the Catholic Church – Pope Francis, has denounced a “colonialist mentality” of the international community towards Africa.
The Pontiff, who is scheduled to visit the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan next week, shared his thoughts on the African continent and its people in an exclusive interview with the Associated Press (AP).
“The African continent is a land of great beauty and potential,” the Pope began.
“But it is also a land that has been exploited for far too long. The international community has long had a colonialist mindset towards Africa, treating it as a resource to be harvested rather than a land of vibrant cultures and communities.”
Pope Francis also pointed to a problem of attitude toward the African continent, and how certain expressions such as the Italian “Africa va fruttata” (Africa is meant to be exploited) still persist in the minds of some people.
He went on to speak about the issue of “tribalism” in Africa, noting that during a recent visit to Kenya, a crowd of thousands chanted “no to tribalism” in unison.
The Pontiff acknowledged that while the people of Africa are coming together and consolidating themselves more and more in freedom, tribalism is still a major issue.
“The problem is that, we still see this kind of tribalism even in the way bishops are appointed in dioceses. It’s not about qualifications, it’s about what tribe they belong to,” he said.
The Pope’s visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo was originally scheduled for July, but a new wave of attacks in parts of North Kivu prompted the Vatican to scrap a planned stop in Goma.
Despite this, he will still be meeting with residents from the east and victims of the conflict in Kinshasa.
He is expected to arrive Kinshasa on Tuesday before heading Friday to Juba, the capital of South Sudan, where he will be joined by the leaders of the Anglican Church and the Church of Scotland.
“Africa is in turmoil,” said the Pope. “But I believe that with the courage of total independence, we can overcome these internal wars and the exploitation that plagues our continent.”
As he spoke, the Pope’s eyes seemed to light up with a fiery passion, as if he were a beacon of hope for the people of Africa.
He concluded the interview by saying “I am honored to be able to walk alongside the people of Africa and to stand in solidarity with them, as they work to build a better future for themselves and for the world.”
