The Bishops of the Episcopal Conference of Haiti (CEH) in their Christmas message, say they are "deeply affected" and express their "pain and dismay" faced the worsening situation of the country which is sinking more every day "in violence, misery and insalubrity." "Acts of kidnapping, banditry, rape, assassinations and barbarism proliferate, sowing terror, death and mourning" they believe in their message that the country needs more than ever "salvation, redemption, of Peace and in-depth transformation."

To the authorities, they shout "with all the exasperated and exhausted Haitian people" : "No to chaos! No to violence ! No to insecurity! No to misery! We have had enough! The Haitian people are fed up! Enough is enough!"

To the authors of these acts and to those who support them, the bishops ask to stop "in the name of the God of life. Such acts, condemned by all the people, will get them nowhere."

From the headquarters of the Episcopal Conference of Haiti in Lilavois, the bishops call for a moral and patriotic leap from everyone, for the "transformation of hearts", with a view to obtaining a national agreement to rebuild the Nation.

In this Advent season, they stress that for them "the solution is in the hope in which is activated the consensus for a social friendship and a new culture". Why not reform the Constitution as some are calling for, but this must go through justice and consensus, they say. This method is the only way to "save Haiti from disaster".

"In front of the brutal and programmed death which surrounds us and threatens us", they quote the words of Pope Francis pronounced on March 25, 2013 "Let's not let our hope be robbed" and ask believers to recognize that "love comes first", as the Holy Father wrote in his encyclical "Fratelli tutti" (All brothers).

"Christmas is the feast of Love, the feast of Fraternity, the feast of Peace. This Peace, let's seek it together. Let's give Haiti a chance! Let us spare the beloved Haitian people further suffering. Banish violence forever! End insecurity and impunity for good !" proposing thus to each one to welcome the Mystery of Christmas, the Mystery of God who became flesh and to let himself be transformed by the Child-God who smiles from the arms of his mother, and "invites us to not to lose heart, to open ourselves to the grace of God, to hope."

They hope that the grace of Christmas will support them in their fight against insecurity, violence and all the "forces of death", and in their commitment to build a new Haiti, to make the "forces of life" triumph.

HL/ HaitiLibre