Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
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| His Eminence Berhaneyesus Cardinal Souraphel |
Over a year since Ethiopia and Eritrea signed a peace deal which ended decades of unresolved conflicts and saw the two countries reinstate trade and other mutual dealings, Head of the Ethiopian Catholic ChurchHis Eminence Berhaneyesus Cardinal Souraphel and other delegates were on Saturday, February 22, barred entry to Eritrea at Asmara International Airport.
The Cardinal was in the company of Bishop Musie Ghebereghiorghis of Ethiopia’s Emdibir Eparchy and Secretary General of the Bishops Conference of Ethiopia Fr. Teshome Fikre Woldetensae.
The Church leaders who were invited by the President of Eritrean Catholic Bishops Conference (ECBC) Archbishop Menghistab Tesfamariam, “…to take part in the 50th Golden Jubilee Celebration of the construction of the Prestigious Catholic Cathedral of Mary Kidanemehret (Mary, Covenant of Mercy),” a statement signed by the Deputy Secretary General of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia (CBCE) Fr. Gabriel Woldehanna indicates.
“After arriving at the National Airport of Asmara, the delegation went through all the requirements and confirmed with the issuance on arrival Visa for one month,” Fr. Woldehanna who is also the Coordinator of Pastoral Commission noted in the statement.
He said as the delegation was waiting for the final check-out from the airport, security officials informed them that“Higher Authority (has) forbade them the entrance to Eritrea (and) they were forced to pass the night in the airport and return home next day.”
According to the Secretary General, “we were given an entry visa on arrival but after that the security decided not to authorize our entry and since there was no other flight to go back to Addis Ababa at that time, we had to wait until the next flight comes which was the following day.”
“While the Ethiopian Catholic Church appreciates the peace negotiations reached between our two sister countries and is always her constant prayers for lasting peace, she finds herself unfortunate not being allowed to join the Church of Eritrea in this historical celebration. We feel sad about the incident,” expressed Fr. Woldehanna, OFM. Cap on Friday 27.
Cardinal Souraphel who is also the Chairman for the National Peace and Reconciliation in Ethiopia shared his experience with the Catholic faithful at Kebenna Kidanemehret Parish Church in Addis Ababa, and “pleaded the Faithful to pray for both our churches and the two sister-countries for full realization of lasting peace through the Maternal Intercession of Mary Kidanemehret.”