An African Peacemaker
with Archbishop Jaime Gonçalves
Africa, a continent frequently associated with tragedy, is also a source of hope. After a long struggle for independence from Portugal, the people of Mozambique slipped into a bloody civil war that lasted 16 years, killing over a million people and sending another 4.5 million fleeing for refuge. With the two sides at a stalemate, Archbishop Jaime Gonçalves took on the responsibility of peacefully resolving the conflict. With the assistance of the Community of Sant’Egidio, an international Catholic lay movement that played the role of mediator, he successfully brokered peace, a peace that has endured for over 15 years. Archbishop Gonçalves will speak about his experience as part of the peace process and of the common call for all Christians to be peacemakers.
Archbishop Jaime Pedro Gonçalves is the Archbishop of Beira and Apostolic Administrator of Quelimane. He was born in Nova Sofala, Mozambique, and was was ordained a priest in the Roman Catholic Church on December 1967.
Archbishop Gonçalves was one of the four mediators of the peace process in Mozambique that ended a 16-year war, after 27 months of negotiations at the Community of Sant’Egidio in Rome (1990-1992). He has also served as Chairperson of the Mozambique Bishops’ Conference.
Bring your lunch — drinks and dessert provided.
