Pastoral Appeal for Peace and Reconciliation Issued by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia (CBCE)
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen!
« Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.»
(Matthew 5:9)
To our beloved children in Christ, the Catholic faithful, and to all the people of God in Ethiopia and throughout the world, may the love, peace, and grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be with you all!
The Ethiopian Catholic Church grieves deeply over the armed conflict that is currently present in Tigray, Afar, Amhara, Oromia and other regions in our country. Rather than resolving differences, war serves only to deepen divisions and multiplies suffering. It claims a tragic toll on precious human lives, inflicts grave devastation upon communities and property, and sow seeds of hatred, resentment, and vengeance that may endure for generations.
On 30 September 2026, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV made a paternal appeal for peace, stating:
« I am following with deep concern the situation in Tigray and in the neighboring regions of Afar and Amhara, where hostilities have once again broken out. I extend my heartfelt plea to all parties to choose the path of dialogue. Armed conflict never solves problems but only worsens them, leaving in its wake a trail of death, destruction, and resentment. Only honest engagement can lay the foundations for lasting peace. »
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia earnestly appeals to all people, despite the differences that may exist among us, to regard the life of others as we regard our own life and the suffering of others as our own suffering, because the peace of our beloved nation, Ethiopia, is a responsibility shared by all of us. It is our heartfelt prayer that all disputes may be settled through genuine dialogue and that all forms of conflict may cease. Yet we are painfully aware that, whenever violence erupts, the greatest suffering falls upon the most vulnerable, particularly innocent people, children, women, the elderly, and the sick. We continue to raise our voice so that this may not happen and to implore the Lord to protect every human life. We therefore affirm that a peace rooted in truth, justice, forgiveness, and reconciliation can bring healing to our nation and serve the welfare of all our peoples. Such a peace reflects the values of the Gospel, advances the common good, upholds the sacred dignity of the human person, and corresponds to the will of God for His people.
Above all, the Ethiopian Catholic Church earnestly calls upon all parties to open their hearts to forgiveness and reconciliation by renewing the spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood among us, so that our nation may experience a just, lasting, and authentic peace.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia further reminds the faithful that, beginning today, Meskerem 21 (October 1st), the Feast of Our Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary according to the Ethiopian liturgical calendar, and continuing until Tikimit 21 (October 31st), and also in communion with the Universal Catholic Church, which observes the traditional month dedicated to the Virgin Mary (October 1–31), is a privileged time during which the faithful are especially encouraged to deepen their devotion to our Lady through the prayer of the Holy Rosary.
Likewise, according to the liturgical Calendar of the Ethiopian Oriental Tradition, the period from October 6th to November 14th, 2026, known as Zemene Tsige (The Fast of Qusquam Mariyam), is a sacred season of prayer, penance, and spiritual renewal, in which we intensify our supplications for the gift of peace during this blessed time. We earnestly urge all Catholic faithful and all people of good will to persevere in prayer and fasting, imploring Almighty God to bestow upon our nation the blessings of reconciliation, unity, and lasting peace.
Furthermore, as the Church prepares to celebrate October 4, the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, and in a particular way to commemorate this year the 800th anniversary of his holy passing into eternal life, we encourage all the faithful to recite daily, both in their personal prayer and within their parish communities, and especially at the conclusion of the Holy Mass on Sundays, the beloved Prayer for Peace attributed to Saint Francis, which begins: “Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love…”
Through this call to prayer, we humbly remind all the faithful that we must persevere steadfastly in prayer, fasting, and spiritual renewal, so that our nation may be blessed with the gift of a secure and lasting peace and a flourishing spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood. At the same time, we remind with humility that each of us is called to work for peace, within our families, communities, and country.
May the peace, the love, and the mercy of God, descend upon Ethiopia and all her peoples. Amen.
October 1, 2026
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia
(CBCE)
“በነፃ የተቀበላችሁት በነፃ ስጡ”
አስተንትኖ፡ የሚስዮናዊ ደቀመዝሙርነት ራስን መቻልን፣ መተማመንን እና ልግስናን ይጠይቃል። የተላክነው ለጥቅም ሳይሆን የምስራቹን ቃል ለማወጅና ለመባረክ ነው።