The Contributions of Ecclesia in Africa and Africae Munus to Dialogue with Muslims in Nigeria

Abstract

The Church, after Christ the founder, has always called its members together to ask questions with regard to its future. From the first Council of Jerusalem (cf. Acts 15:1-35) to the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) in Rome, the Church has continuously evaluated her life, examined her mission and intention. All these are in an effort to work in accordance with the life, mission, and intention of Christ. It has sought to resolve issues originating from difficulties and problems from within and without its domain. Through such councils, the Church has always learnt and prepared itself for challenges ahead. A step lower in the ladder, though not unimportant, is the use of Synodal Councils by the Church to resolve or propose meaningful ways for the propagation of the Gospel in particular churches. Therefore, a synod is a council organized for and by particular churches or groups within the Universal Church. This is why there are Diocesan Synods, Synod of Bishops or Synods organized by various Religious Institutes and Organisations. Hence, the call by Pope John Paul II on the feast of Epiphany in 1989 for a special Synod of Bishops for Africa was received with enthusiasm. The Synod eventually took place from April 10 to May 8, 1994, in Rome. The outcome of that synod was the apostolic exhortation, ‘Ecclesia in Africa’. In the same vein, the apostolic exhortation, ‘Africae munus’ of Pope Benedict XVI in 2011 was the result of the second synod of Bishops for Africa in 2009. It is the intention of this paper to view critically the attention paid to Dialogue, especially between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria, as a pastoral response to the Vatican II Council’s decree on promoting cordial and sincere interreligious dialogue (cf. Nostra Aetate, 2-3).