Ethiopia’s Catholic Bishops Call for Dialogue and Reconciliation amid Renewed Fighting

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia urged parties involved in armed conflicts to end hostilities and pursue dialogue, forgiveness, and reconciliation in a statement dated October 1. The bishops expressed sorrow over violence in the Tigray, Afar, Amhara, and Oromia regions, noting that war destroys lives, communities, and property while creating long-lasting resentment.

The bishops highlighted the suffering of vulnerable groups, specifically children, women, the elderly, and the sick. They appealed to Ethiopians to view the suffering of others as their own and stated that peace is a shared responsibility.

The conference called for peace rooted in truth, justice, and the dignity of the human person. They also asked Catholics and people of goodwill to pray and fast for peace, urging all parties to renew a spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood to achieve a lasting peace.