BUJUMBURA March 31st (ABP) – The Burundi Head of State, Mr. Evariste Ndayishimiye returned on Wednesday March 30, 2022 from a visit to the Holy See of Vatican in Italy, where he met the Holy Father, Pope Francis and the Secretary of State of the Vatican to discuss the relations that exist between the Catholic Church and Burundi as well as on the questions of national life, a check on the site by ABP has revealed.
President Ndayishimiye told the media on his arrival at Melchior Ndadaye International Airport that, in his talks with the Holy Father, he presented to him the situation of our country while showing that the Burundi of yesterday is no longer Burundi today and that we predict a better future.
He also informed Pope Francis that Burundi is in a period of reconciliation and the start of socio-economic development in the country, without forgetting to present to him, as a higher authority who has influences in the world, the challenges that the country faces in implementing its outlook.
The President of the Republic indicated that Pope Francis was satisfied with his explanations concerning the situation in the country, with the fact that Burundi is changing more and more and that there is good governance which allows trust between institutions but also an interreligious dialogue which is permanent in Burundi. He added that the pope encouraged Burundi in the same vein while showing the interest of these interreligious meetings because, explained the pope, we are all brothers and children of God in our diversity.
The Head of State did not forget to recount the history of relations between the Holy See and the State of Burundi which date back a long time, reminding the Holy Father that the first enunciator in Africa was in Burundi in 1962 and that this year, Burundi celebrates the 60th anniversary of these relations between the Holy See and the State of Burundi. He also revealed to him that next year we will celebrate the 125th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in Burundi.
President Ndayishimiye took advantage of that opportunity to present him with the mountain of Mugera, which has been a mountain of God since our history but which has also known wonders because, he underlined, it is no coincidence that the first missionaries headed for this mountain where they even set up the country’s first diocese.
He also pointed out that in 1961 Prince Louis Rwagasore, being the prime minister of the country, invited the bishops of Burundi to meet at Mugera where they installed a sanctuary which is still a sanctuary today. which attracts all Burundians, such as Catholics, Muslims and Protestants, who meet there in the various retreats to meditate. He proposed that a basilica be erected there, an idea which satisfied the Holy Father so much that he encouraged the country to move forward.
He took that opportunity to invite the Pope to come and celebrate those events with the Burundians, something he accepted spontaneously while indicating that he will come next year because he has already scheduled many trips for this year.
The President of the Republic said he was satisfied with that visit he had just made to Vatican City in Italy because he also visited the headquarters of the FAO and the San Egidio community which has contributed a great deal in the peace process in Burundi, without forgetting to meet the Italian economic operators who have promised to come and visit Burundi.