L’atto più significativo del Vertice è stata l’adozione del "Patto su sicurezza, stabilità e sviluppo". Attesa la convergenza dei suoi obiettivi con parecchie aree di azione della Chiesa in quella Regione, la Santa Sede ha chiesto alle Conferenze Episcopali di adoperarsi per accompagnare l’attuazione del Patto e promuoverne lo spirito.

In questa prospettiva il Presidente dell’Associazione dei Membri delle Conferenze Episcopali dell’Africa orientale (AMECEA) e quelli di diverse Conferenze Episcopali della Regione hanno potuto presenziare al Summit, al termine del quale hanno diffuso una Dichiarazione. Con essa i Presuli esprimono gratitudine per il Messaggio del Santo Padre ed apprezzamento per l’iniziativa dei Capi di Stato e di Governo, auspicando che il lavoro finora compiuto non sia vano e che gli impegni solennemente presi siano attuati con coraggio e lungimiranza.

Pubblichiamo di seguito il testo della Dichiarazione:

2^ND SUMMIT OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

ON THE GREAT LAKES REGION

14^TH TO 15^TH DECEMBER 2006

Dear Catholic Christians and All People of Good will in the Great Lakes Region.

We, the Archbishops and Bishops attending the Great Lakes Regional Summit in Nairobi on the 14^th and 15^th December 2006 wish to express our appreciation to the Heads of States and Governments of the Great Lakes Region for their initiative to come together, to sign and adopt a "Pact on security, stability and development" in the Great Lakes Region.

We further deeply appreciate the support of other countries, friends of the Great Lakes Region. We pray that they will continue supporting the initiative for the benefit of our people.

The presence of a Special Envoy of the Holy See and the message of the Holy Father are very clear signs of how close the Great Lakes Region is to the heart of the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI.

Inspired by this message, it is our determination to continue our commitment to promote the values enshrined in the proposals of the Pact.

As we know our region has had its share of problems including political instability in some areas, violence as a result of negative ethnicity, poverty and many others.

Due to violence leading to loss of human lives some of our people have been left divided and without hope. Therefore, this initiative of our Heads of State and Government offers a chance to initiate the process of healing, which the Church fully endorses and commits itself to promote leading our people to forgive and reconcile with one another in the interest of peaceful co-existence now and in the future.

We call upon all those concerned to ensure equitable distribution of resources at the national and regional levels. We challenge ourselves to be pro-active so that we can be able to foresee and forestall explosive negative situations. This way we shall save our region from exhaustive wars and other negative experiences.

We urge our political leaders to nurture a culture of tolerance, patience and forgiveness. We urge them to be sensitive to the plight of the majority of people when their differences of opinion plunge different countries into political instability. While we pray for them, we again urge prudence and wise discretion.

We urge our lay people to take up the challenge of their calling and mission. This is to be the salt of the earth. They are to take up their rightful roles in the society including the political and administrative offices.

As the summit comes to an end, we encourage our Heads of States and Government to ensure the implementation of the Pact to the detail. This will ensure that the gains from several summits are not in vain.

Finally we send all of you greetings, peace and best wishes of a blessed Christmas and Happy New Year 2007.

Nairobi, 15 December 2006

Archbishop Paul Bakyenga – Chairman, AMECEA

Archbishop John Njue – Chairman, Kenya Episcopal Conference

Bishop Jude Thaddeaus Ruwa’ichi – Chairman, Tanzania Episcopal Conference

Archbishop Laurent Monsengwo- Chairman, Episcopal Conference of Congo

Bishop Fredrick Drandua – Vice Chairman, Uganda Episcopal Conference

Bishop Jean Ntagwarara - Chairman, Burundi Episcopal Conference

[01866-02.02] [Original text: English]

[B0663-XX.01]