Fondation Jean-Paul II pour le Sahel

1 – History

« Misereor Turbae (I have compassion for these people) » Matthieu 15-32.

This was the cry that gushed one day from Jesus’ heart before a multitude of hungry men, women and children (more than five thousand according to the Gospel) after following him for several days.

In 1980, while Sahel Countries were literally consumed by rigours of an implacable drought, a voice raised, waking up the consciousness of a world watching powerless or unconcerned, the horrible spectacle of lands becoming infertile and hungry populations.

This voice was the voice of the Pope John Paul II. The 10 May 1980, while setting foot for the first time on the sahelian soil, moved by the ecological desolation he discovered in the reality, beyond the cliché of the television, the Holy Father made a historic call from Ouagadougou.

This cry was an alarm and a call for help launched by His Holiness the Pope John Paul II. Today this call still resonates and its multiple effects can still be felt in this part of the world.

Listen to the call of Pope John Paul II the 10 May 1980.

By speaking to the world the Pope drew our attention to the terrible drought that was hitting the countries of Sahel.

In his famous homily pronounced in the cathedral of Ouagadougou, John Paul II stated: “From here, Ouagadougou, from the middle of one of these countries we can call the countries of thirst, may I be allowed to launch to everybody, in Africa and beyond this continent, a solemn appeal not to close the eyes in front of what happened and what’s happening in the sahelian region.”

In front of his eyes was indeed extending an immense stretch of dried, naked, arid soils, flogged by long years without rain, threatened by a rapid and an increasingly severe desertification.

In front of his yes, he had the victims of this climatic tragedy: he was seeing an immense crowd tried by suffocating winds; men, women and children famed because the soil refused them any food for years; but also deprived from the most basic dignity.

This tragedy took in his voice a dimension beyond the Sahel’s borders: it was the tragedy of the entire humanity, the formers because they were suffering in their flesh and in their hearts, the others because they lacked of the most basic solidarity, charity, toward their human brothers.

The Pope launched a more vibrant appeal, invoking his quality of Vicar of Christ, which happens only in the most severe situations. From a tone mixed with anxiety, vigour and supplication, he said: “this is why, from this very place, from the capital of Upper Volta (actual Burkina Faso), I launch a solemn appeal to the entire world. I, John Paul II, Bishop of Rome and Successor of Peter, raise my imploring voice, because I can’t conceal myself when my brothers and sisters are threatened. I made myself the voice of those who don’t have a voice, the voice of innocents, who died because of the lack of water and bread; the voice of fathers and mothers who witnessed the death of their children without understanding, or will always see their children with the permanent consequences of the hunger their suffered; the voice of the upcoming generations, who must never live with this horrible threat to their lives anymore. I launch an appeal to everybody.”

Few months later (November 1980), the Pope launched the same appeal in Germany. His voice triggered a huge wave of solidarity and donations, first tangible stone of what would become the John Paul II “Fondation pour le Sahel”.

The different steps for the creation of this Foundation were the subject of several consultations between the Holy See, the Bishops of Sahel and the German Episcopate:

5 November 1981: the Holy Father said to the Bishops of Sahel “I wish for a concrete development in the region of Sahel… and for it to remain the efficacious sign of my love for my most tried African brothers.”

February 1982: the Bishops of Western Africa are appointed to study how to achieve this development.

16 May 1983: small meeting in Rome to submit a draft. Draft articles are submitted for revision to different countries.

Finally, the 22 February 1984, the Foundation is born; its birth is formalized by John Paul II himself: pontifical letter establishing the creation of the John Paul II Foundation for the Sahel.
“With deep satisfaction I have learned that the appeal I addressed on 10 May 1980 at Ouagadougou on behalf of the population of the Sahel, harshly stricken by increasing aridity and drought, has had a wider international response. Numerous faithful, particularly in the Federal Republic of Germany, moved by sincere feelings of universal solidarity and by true Christian spirit, have generously offered their contribution in order to relieve the sufferings of their African brothers and sisters.

Having considered then that in spite of the many initiatives of governments and of the international community the situation persists in its seriousness, after consulting my brothers in the Episcopate of the region of the Sahel, it seemed opportune to give a more organic, permanent and effective form to the Church’s aid intended for Sahel in a spirit of charity, authentic human promotion and collaboration with all the organizations committed to aid programmes.

To this end, by virtue of my supreme apostolic authority in the Church, and my sovereignty in Vatican City State, in keeping with canons 331, 114 par. 1, 115 par. 3, and 116 par. 1 of the Code of Canon Law, article 1 of the fundamental Law of Vatican City of 7 June 1929, and article 1 letter a) of the Law of sources of rights of 7 June 1929 II, I erect the autonomous Foundation “Fondation John-Paul II pour le Sahel” as a public canonical juridical person and as a civil juridical person, with its seat in Vatican City State.

The Foundation will be governed by the canonical laws and civil laws in effect in Vatican City and by the annexed Statutes with I now approve.

In erecting this Foundation, I wish it to be the sign and testimony of a work of charity done in the name of Christ in this Holy Year of the Redemption.
Given in Rome on 22 February, Feast of the Chair of St Peter the Apostle, in the year 1984, the sixth of the Pontificate.”

6 March 1984: the John Paul II Foundation for the Sahel is officially established.
Because of its legal status, its head office is located in the Vatican City but its governance is entrusted to the Bishops of Sahel: a first in a world who opposes North and South so often, the beneficiaries will manage themselves the allocated budget and will determine its mode of use.