West African bishops launch "online pilgrimage" for justice

The Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA), which includes Catholic bishops from 16 countries, has launched an interactive “online pilgrimage” to contribute to the fight for justice. 

The project was opened on October 27 on Facebook. It allows RECOWA member churches to post smartphone-recorded video clips or voice messages that highlight justice issues throughout the region.

Organizers of the initiative have urged people to post about such things as communities negatively affected by land grabbing or local initiatives that are successfully promoting agroecology and environmental care. 

They are also encouraging posts on the impact that social injustice and the environmental crises are having on the lives of young people.

"Through this, we hope to provide a platform for the voices of our people to be amplified and heard by government officials and policy makers at various levels in Africa and internationally," explained Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja (Nigeria), the RECOWA president. 

The archbishop said in a video message that he and his fellow Church leaders hope the initiative will "create awareness and inspire the general population for action in favor of justice".

COP26, land grabbing

Kaigama told leaders of Caritas, the national justice and peace commissions and the other partners of the project that RECOWA wants to draw particular attention to a number of international events that could have an impact on the lives of the people of the region.

It could already make the voice of the West African Churches heard at the next climate summit.

"This 'online pilgrimage' will also be an advocacy tool for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) held in Glasgow, Scotland, from November 1 to 12, 2021," he said. 

The "online pilgrimage" will also support a campaign against land grabbing, which is sponsored by the Global Convergence of Land and Water Struggles in West Africa.

"In keeping with the bishops' call for justice, RECOWA wants to concretely stand with the poor and oppressed in their struggle for sustainable livelihoods through the protection of their land and water, their forests and their environment, as well as through the transition to agro-ecology," Archbishop Kaigama said.

This awareness-raising campaign on the injustices suffered by countries and village communities in relation to their lands will take place from November 20 to December 11. 

The RECOWA president has urged the episcopal conferences of the countries that will be represented by this campaign to support the participants.