SYNODAL MESSAGE OF THE ETHIOPIAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE

December 2018 – Released January 3, 2026

“Do not be afraid; for behold,
I bring you good news of great joy
that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10).

To our beloved priests, monks and nuns, Catholic faithful, Catholic brothers and sisters in Christ abroad, God’s people in Ethiopia, and all people of good will, may our Christmas blessings and greetings reach you.

Peace be upon you all.

1. We, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia, present this Synodal Message at the conclusion of our 59th General Assembly held in Amdiber from November 29 to December 1, 2018 EC (Ethiopian Calendar). This Message marks the end of the Jubilee Year and the beginning of the implementation of the Synodal Document, both at the global level and in our dioceses.
2. In this Christmas season, as we await the birth of the Lord Jesus in our hearts, we echo the angel’s comforting words: “Do not be afraid.” Just as these words were spoken to our Blessed Mother, to Joseph her betrothed, and to the first disciples when they met the Risen Lord, they are words that speak to us anew today in the concrete circumstances of our beloved country, Ethiopia. For a country suffering from many hardships—poverty, conflict, climate change, social unrest, and division—these words of the angel remind us that even in darkness, the divine light of Christ can lead us to renewed hope and unity. In this holy Christmas season, as we await with vigilance and hope, our hearts yearn for the night when the angel appeared to the shepherds. The shepherds’ world, like ours, was uncertain and full of suffering. The first word from heaven was, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10).
3. Today, we, your shepherds, echo the divine message of “Do not be afraid” to all of you. We say this not in ignorance of the deep suffering and fear in our country, but in the assurance of faith that God is with us. He comes as a “shining star” who does not disappoint us even in our times of distress. In this homily, we await him not in despair, but by making the conscious choice to walk together in a journey of Synodality— in communion, participation, and mission. As the Year of Hope draws to a close, the message of the journey of Synodality invites us, priests, religious, laypeople, and all people of good will, to walk together in unity. Inspired by our Lord’s call to unity, we understand that our common journey must face the grave challenges facing our beloved country, Ethiopia, today. As pastors of the church, we are called to be a voice of peace, hope, and reconciliation, unyielding in the face of the waves of division and violence that threaten to engulf our communities.

Challenges we face in Ethiopia :
When we look at our beloved country, Ethiopia, we see the heavy burden we have carried. Some of the burdens that afflict our country can be summarized as follows:

4. Cost of Living: For many families, daily life has become more than they can bear. The rise in prices has made our basic needs seem like a luxury. Parents watch with sadness as their children go to bed hungry and empty-handed. This burden is weakening the bonds of family life. This contradicts the fundamental principle of Catholic social teaching, which requires that economic structures serve human dignity and that priority be given to the poor and vulnerable.
5. Climate change crisis: Persistent drought and environmental degradation are testing our resilience to the limit. The poor, who have contributed little to the crisis, are paying the highest price. Think of those who are starving in our blessed country. We are called to be stewards of God’s creation (Genesis 2:15), but we are mired in unsustainable ways. This calls for ecological conversion and collective action. As Laudato Si’ states: We need a change of heart and mind that leads to heartfelt repentance and conversion. (LS 218)
6. Cultural Disruption and Division: Ethnic conflicts, racial hatred, and divisive ideologies are trying to tear apart our sacred national bonds. The influence of social media is threatening our common identity and weakening the bonds that bind us. The new culture shaped by digitalization is destroying our old values. We seem to be accepting the new culture without sufficient understanding and critical thinking. The dangerous “us and them” spirit that is being exaggerated by social media is destroying our common values and confusing our youth. We are in danger of losing the sense of common good that states that the well-being of each person is linked to the well-being of others.
7. Endless Conflict: From the recent civil war to the current regional conflicts, our country has been plagued by suffering. Peace and security have become a dream. Meaningless conflicts based on religion, ethnicity or politics have plunged us into a cycle of revenge and destruction. This is in direct contradiction to the Gospel’s call to be instruments of peace (Matthew 5:9) and the Church’s teaching on justice and reconciliation. The lack of peace that has been shaking our country in recent years has deeply disturbed us. The sound of war echoes in our hearts and homes, causing a sense of confusion. Political, economic and social conflicts have caused many to feel fear and anxiety. The lack of security and peace in all regions of Ethiopia is a serious and unavoidable concern. As a result, families have been torn apart, social values have been shattered, and the spirit of unity that we were once known for is under severe attack. The Catholic Church teaches us that peace is not just the absence of war, but the presence of justice and the flourishing of human dignity. As we reflect on the conflicts that are plaguing our country, we must ask ourselves: “When will enough be enough? When will we turn from the cycle of conflict to healing and rebuilding?” It must be the sacred duty of all of us to confront these problems openly, to speak the truth about the state of our country, and to advocate for a future based on peace. The consequences of the ongoing conflict are dire. Economically, our country is suffering; families are struggling to make ends meet, and educational and employment opportunities are being severely curtailed. Citizens are suffering from hunger, and children and the elderly are paying the highest price for this conflict. Culturally, our beautiful values of diversity are under threat as differences grow and mistrust takes root. At the social level, we see many individuals and families forced to flee their homes and live in dire circumstances as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Furthermore, there are many who have fled their homelands and are facing many hardships and dangers. Due to policy changes in developed countries, Ethiopians living in the diaspora are living their lives in fear and uncertainty. We must recognize that the suffering caused by war goes beyond the battlefield. This suffering is reaching the very foundations of our society, affecting our children, our elders, and our future. As a church, we cannot remain silent in the face of such suffering. Rather, we are called to be instruments of peace, advocates for the voiceless, and tirelessly work for reconciliation.
8. Communication Barriers: Our greatest failure may be our inability to communicate. The “if I don’t win” mentality and selfishness have replaced the culture of listening to each other. From families to political elites, we are stuck in a “Babylonian” of confusion, unable to listen to each other. Barriers caused by language, political views, and religious beliefs have dominated our communication. As the message Fratelli Tutti states, “Authentic social dialogue requires respect for the other person’s perspective and the recognition that it can contain valid ideas” (#203).
9. Despite serious challenges, our country has shown remarkable resilience and resilience in many areas. Large-scale economic infrastructure investments that have laid a solid foundation for future economic growth, increasing agricultural productivity and export diversification, digital transformation coupled with the development of indigenous financial technology (Fintech), reviving diplomatic relations and peace initiatives, active private sector participation, “green footprint” projects with economic self-reliance efforts, indigenous solutions and the demographic dividend are the main positive aspects that offer hope for the transformation of our country and serve as a guiding philosophy.

The Synodal Journey We Need in this time of Fear

10. The message of the Gospel, especially the call to “Do not be afraid,” resonates in our history and in the Holy Scriptures. The Second Vatican Council’s document “Gaudium et Spes” reminds us that even in suffering, “Christ has overcome the world” (John 16:33); this call to Synodality invites us to share in his victory by walking in unity. In “Centesimus Annus,” Saint John Paul II reflected on the dignity of the human person and the importance of sharing in Christ’s mission. Similarly, Pope Francis’ encyclical “Fratelli Tutti” invites us to the culture of dialogue, forgiveness, and fraternity that are so essential to healing the divisions in our country. The final document of the Synod of the Church emphasizes that true communion requires listening, openness, and shared responsibility. The Vademecum, which guides us step by step on this journey, reminds us that synodality is not just a process but a way of life—a constant communion that transforms communities and souls. The recent global Synod and its guiding document remind us that the Church is called to be a living sign of communion for all humanity. Synodality is “the path along which the Church is called to walk… which involves everyone in a common journey of listening and discernment” (Synod Vademecum). This is not just a practice of the Church; it is also a prophetic witness and a concrete response to the profound crises we face as a nation. In a situation of great fear, walking together is an act that can withstand all forces that divide and destroy.
11. Dear priests, monks and nuns, catechists and lay faithful, we invite you to become a more ‘synodical Church’, based on communion, participation and mission. To put the synodal path into practice, the following frameworks will help you to have a constant conversion and action in your dioceses:

• Journeying Fellowship: Don’t be afraid to acknowledge that all church members are on a shared spiritual pilgrimage; this encourages mutual support and fellowship. No one should be left behind or marginalized in our journey toward the church we want to be.
• Fellowship, building and listening: Don’t be afraid to make an effort to listen deeply to one another, especially to those on the margins. Just as Christ hears our pain, we must listen to the voices of the marginalized, the young, and those suffering from conflict and economic hardship. This active listening builds trust and unity; it also helps to overcome fear through cooperation.
• Speaking Out: Do not be afraid to create an environment that encourages all baptized believers to speak honestly, confidently, and thoughtfully about their experiences and concerns. This should be done in a spirit of fraternal correction, not in a form of accusation or condemnation.
• Celebrating: Do not be afraid to acknowledge the importance of liturgical life and common prayer, which are the source and pillar of the Church’s synodal journey; this is where unity in diversity is manifested in practice.
• Co-responsibility in the Mission: Do not be afraid to raise awareness that all members of the Church, through their baptism, are responsible for the mission of evangelization and service of the Church. Do not be afraid or hesitant to actively participate in the mission in every way you can. Actively participate in the promotion of Catholic faith and values at every opportunity you have! In all our institutions, present the integral human development as the mission and vision of our Church; this should benefit all humanity without any distinction of race, religion or identity.
• Dialogue within the Church and the Community: Do not be afraid to encourage dialogue within the Church and with the community—including different cultures, religions, and social classes—to build bridges of human connection and address contemporary challenges. Do not be afraid to foster a culture of dialogue within your family, your neighbourhood, your congregation, your diocese, and your congregations.
• Your relationship with other churches: Do not be afraid to actively seek ecumenism, to listen to and learn from the values of other churches, to strengthen the path to unity. Authority and participation: Do not be afraid to re-evaluate how the structural system is being used, while maintaining the hierarchical structure of the church, and facilitating the participation and shared responsibility of all members.
• Discernment and Decision Making: Do not be afraid to apply processes of discernment and reflection based on prayer and Scripture to discern God’s will and make decisions that reflect the community’s shared journey.
• Building ourselves up in Synodality: Do not be afraid to commit yourself to ongoing training and the renewal of structures (such as the Councils of Canons and Finances) so that the principles and practices of Synodality become the standard way for the Church to lead at all levels.

The Holy Virgin Mary, Mother of God, is our model for the Synodal journey.

12. In simple and concise terms, Synodality is a path of spiritual renewal and structural transformation that makes the Church more inclusive and mission-oriented, shining the light of Christ on each person. As stated in the Synodal Church Document; we see the full light of a synodal, mission-oriented and merciful Church in Christ, in the Church and in the Mother of us all, the Virgin Mary. She is the model of a Church that listens, prays, teaches, discusses, walks, contemplates and understands, discerns things wisely, analyzes things wisely, decides and acts. From the Virgin Mary we learn the wisdom of listening carefully and attentively, paying attention to the will of God, obeying the word of God and being ready to hear and walk with the poor. We also learn from her the poetry of thanksgiving that inspires us to help those in need and brings joy in the spirit. (MC,28) (#29).

Therefore, meditate carefully on the words, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” May the hope of the New Year fill your hearts and homes. May you have a happy birthday. For the shining star, Jesus, is coming, and may the grace of his birth help us all to stand strong and without fear.

Your shepherds

Bishops of the Ethiopian Catholic Church