ETHIOPIAN Cardinal Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel landed in Australia just in time to watch Election Day 2022 unfold.
Cardinal Souraphiel, who was a political prisoner of the Derg communist dictatorship which ruled Ethiopia from 1974 until 1987, told a group of students at St James College, Spring Hill, he was amazed by the election.
He said it was great to watch the outgoing prime minister end his term and say, “Good luck” to the next prime minister.
Looking around the room, he asked if any of the students might one day be the next prime minister, which was met with sheepish smiles and pointing around the room.
Cardinal Souraphiel had been instrumental in leading a reconciliation and mercy campaign for the ousted Derg officials, who were his captors when they were in power.
He had advocated to stay their executions and, once they had finished their life sentences, he was the first person they visited to say thanks.
Cardinal Souraphiel was now touring Australia to give his thanks as a guest of Catholic Mission.
He was visiting schools and ministries to share his gratitude for all the good works Catholic Mission had achieved in Ethiopia like improving educational opportunities for young people and providing goats for families.
At St James, Cardinal Souraphiel was also interested in hearing the stories of migrant and refugee students studying there.
College captain Manar Abajabal, who also comes from Ethiopia, and college captain Raiden Phan shared their stories coming to Australia and finding a home in St James College.
Cardinal Souraphiel said he was impressed by the interculturality and the diversity of the college.
He said in Ethiopia, all of the Catholic schools resembled St James in that they were open to everyone.
He said that was what the Church did better than anyone – education.
He said schooling begins with the family, and out of that, it paved the way for a society’s future.
He said the support from Australia allowed the Church in Ethiopia to make a major contribution to alleviating poverty.
“We see education as one of the key ways out of poverty, and the Church runs more than 430 schools in the country – second only to the government,” he said.
That was despite Catholics making up just 2 per cent of the population, with Orthodox Christians at around 45 per cent and Muslims at 30 per cent the largest religious groups.
“The Catholic Church is appreciated by all in the country, including by the government, because our services – our health care, our schools, our social services – are open to all,” Cardinal Souraphiel said.
The Church was also working diligently to deliver peace and stability in the county – something that has often been elusive in recent years.
One of Catholic Mission’s key projects was Socktober, which involved more than 61 Brisbane Catholic schools in previous years and raised money for children in need through soccer.
Cardinal Souraphiel held one of the soccer balls “sockballs” made from elastic bands and socks commonly kicked around by Ethiopian kids.
He played goalie while a couple of students took turns trying to score a goal.
For more information about Catholic Mission, go to https://www.catholicmission.org.au/
