Official at Catholic Biblical Federation Urges African Church to Address Social Challenges in light of God’s Word

Fr. Jan J. Stefanów, the Secretary-General of the Catholic Biblical Federation, told the African Church to use the Word of God to address hunger, poverty, conflict, and injustice. Speaking on September 17 during the Third International Biblical Symposium at the Catholic University of Angola in Luanda, the Polish missionary priest said the Church's mission to proclaim Scripture must include the daily realities of the people.

Fr. Stefanów, a member of the Society of the Divine Word, said people experience hunger for more than just food, noting a need for peace, justice, dignity, and meaning. He argued that the mission cannot focus only on spiritual needs while ignoring material and social conditions.

The priest noted that Scripture requires the Church to take both physical and spiritual hunger seriously. He cited the Prophet Amos and Gospel accounts of Jesus showing compassion to crowds to illustrate that the text presents a comprehensive view of human needs.