- Says we are all one inspite of our cultural differences
The Secretary, Dicastery for Evangelisation, Vatican, Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, has enjoined Nigerians to build bridges of understanding and foster a sense of community.He underscored that the Church is in a mission to promote harmony and understanding in a world where differences often lead to conflict. The Vatican based cleric stated that as humans, we are wired to notice and often emphasise our differences, but on the contrary the Bible offers a unique perspective on unity and diversity, encouraging us to embrace both our individuality and our shared humanity.
According to the prelate, by embracing our differences and finding common ground in Christ, we can build a more harmonious world. He made this assertion in an exclusive interview with The Catholic Herald recently at the 16th Annual National Conference of the Association of Papal Knights and Medalists in Nigeria (APKMN) held in Lagos. Fielding question that border on how the Church in Nigeria can effectively evangelise in a multicultural and multi-religious society, Archbishop Nwachukwu noted that the Church hopes to break down barriers and foster a sense of unity among people from all walks of life.
He said, “The Church first and foremost recognises the culture of every person, but it sees culture not as a source of division, but a source of identity, and the Church tries to preach the gospel of Christ as a source of harmony of these differences, bringing people together while respecting their differences. You know, this is the question, the crisis of differences was willed by God himself.” The Secretary of Dicastery for Evangelisation stated that according to biblical teachings, God purposefully created diversity, as seen in Genesis Chapter 1. He urged Nigerians to celebrate their unique qualities and those of others, recognising that their differences are a reflection of God’s creative genius.
Archbishop Nwachukwu went on to illustrate a thoughtful analogy, is the nature of fire, which he said comprises light, heat, and flame. According to him, each aspect is distinct, yet inseparable from the others; you cannot have flame without light or heat, and together they form a singular entity – fire. This imperfect analogy demonstrates how differences can coexist without compromising unity. In his words, “Each of them is different from the other, but then, they also form one unity, as you can think of fire. Fire is fire, light. Fire is fire, heat. Fire is fire, flame. Flame is not light. They are different, but you cannot think of flame without light. “Flame is not heat. They are different, but you cannot think of flame without heat. And all of them form together the same fire.
So, it is an imperfect analogy, but it is able to tell us that you can have differences without destroying unity. And that is what Christianity does.” He further stated that Christianity builds upon this concept, recognising and maintaining our unique experiences and perspectives while introducing a new birth that unites us. “As stated in John 1:11-13, the Word of God came to His own, but was not received. Yet, those who did receive Him were given the power to become children of God, born not of flesh or blood but of God Himself.” The Archbishop added that this divine parentage makes us brothers and sisters in Christ, transcending our cultural and personal differences. He emphasised that just as the Trinity – the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit – exists in perfect harmony, we too can experience unity amid diversity.
