The Church in Burundi eyes reconciliation and peace

Maxime François-Marsal, head of ACN projects for French-speaking countries in central Africa, recently returned from a trip to the Republic of Burundi, a small East African country bordered by Rwanda to the north, the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west, and Tanzania to the east and south. In an interview, François-Marsal speaks about the situation and ACN’s contribution to the development of the Church in the country.

How would you describe Burundi?

Burundi is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region. For at least 500 years, the Twa, Hutu, and Tutsi peoples have lived together in the territory of present-day Burundi. The differentiation between ethnic groups is very blurred, as they share the same language, the same religion, and have similar customs. However, Burundi has a very painful history, littered with massacres, killings, social conflicts, and violence.

What is life like for the religious in Burundi?

Religious feeling is very strong in Burundian society, and freedom of religion is generally respected in the country. Christians make up more than 90 percent of society, and Christianity continues to grow here. Despite this, the Christian faith does not have deep roots in the country. For instance, many new religious movements have been born in Burundi, but these communities often lack knowledge about religious life and the Christian faith, which makes for some challenges. Having been evangelized barely 125 years ago, society has yet to completely embrace the Christian faith and still relies on customs and traditions derived from indigenous religions.

What struck you about the traditions?

Burundi still lives close to its cultural roots. For example, to this day, the dead are feared. There is a belief that their souls can affect the living. There is also the ritual dance with the royal drum, a famous tradition in Burundi that is included on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list and symbolizes fertility, regeneration, and respect for the monarchy. Tabernacles are built on drums; drums are part of the liturgy; and when the President of Burundi visited the Holy See, his gift to the Pope was a drum.

How do Christians in Burundi practice their religion?

People willingly gather in small groups to pray together and help each other. In time, though, the prayer groups become larger communities that require proper places of worship, and they start building churches with their own hands. During my trip to Burundi, I visited one of these churches, and it inspired me a lot. Although Burundi is one of the poorest countries in the world, with more than 80 percent of the population living in poverty, its people are very generous and committed to the church, and they are eager for religious experiences to change their daily lives.

How broad is the Catholic Church’s mission in Burundi?

Two-thirds of Burundi’s Christians identify as Catholic. Burundi has eight dioceses, two of which are vacant. There are four major seminaries in the country, and another one is currently being built in the Diocese of Bubanza, with the help of ACN. In recent years, Burundi has seen a peak in vocations to the consecrated life and the priesthood. There are many applications to the seminary, and they are increasing every year. However, due to the country’s poor economy, the seminaries can only accept 13 candidates.

Several female congregations are successfully ministering in Burundi. The first local female congregation, the Bene Terezya sisters, has already become a congregation of pontifical rights. The Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary and the Schoenstatt Fathers have been working in Burundi since the sixties. They all strengthen education for children and young people, teach the basics of catechism, organize sports and cultural activities, and bring about real change in society.

On a pastoral level, what do you think are the country’s main challenges?

Since Burundi gained independence in 1962, there have been three genocides as a result of violent conflicts between the Hutu and Tutsi populations.

In March 2022, during his visit to Pope Francis at the Vatican, the President of Burundi, Évariste Ndayishimiye acknowledged that the Catholic Church played a major role in the peace process and reconciliation of the Burundian people, and these efforts have borne the fruits of a fragile peace.

Prospects for religious freedom remain unchanged, but internal tensions and external circumstances affect all human rights. Therefore, particular attention must be paid to the education and formation process of those who will be actors in the life of the Church and in the life of the country.

What is ACN’s contribution to the life of the country?

Over the past ten years, ACN has contributed to more than 200 projects in Burundi, with a special focus on the formation of priests and religious sisters, and the training of catechists, as well as on various pastoral activities. This commitment will continue in the future.

However, in Burundi, there is a growing threat of political violence and a climate of distrust everywhere, even among friends and family.  I was told that people never invite their friends into their homes, because they fear that they could then hunt them down whenever the next civil war starts. For this reason, ACN supports projects to promote and safeguard Catholic families. Our action is directed at spreading the Good News in people’s hearts, so they can resist the temptation of violence.

—Mykolas Sotnicenka