Ikenna U, O., & Mumbi, K. (Eds.). (2023). Envisioning a World without Borders, Pauline.
On 3rd October 2020, the Vigil of the Feast of Saint Francis, in the eighth year of his Pontificate, Pope Francis signed his third encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, at the tomb of Saint Francis in Assisi. Fratelli Tutti was eagerly anticipated as the definitive document of Pope Francis’ Social Teaching. It followed the Human Fraternity signed by the Pope and Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar in Abu Dhabi, on February 4, 2019.
The release of the encyclical fulfilled the desire of many African scholars. It officially incorporated into Church teaching what Africans have been communicating to the world through their ethics, philosophy, and social anthropology. The encyclical emphasized the importance of fraternity, as demonstrated in the African concept of Ubuntu, among other traditional values currently threatened by materialism and capitalist exploitation. As a result, it was necessary for African Catholic scholars to offer a commentary on the encyclical from an African perspective. Our latest book, a product of that response, is now available in the African religious market for our readers to enjoy.
You can find the book at Paulines bookstores throughout the continent, or order it online at https://shop.paulinesafrica.org/product/Envisioning-a-World-without-Borders.
Envisioning a World Without Borders engages creatively with Africa’s socio-political and economic problems without being reactionary. It appreciates a new paradigm shift from the hermeneutic of liberation to that of fraternal solidarity in its imagination of the demands of the zeitgeist. The book’s main focus is on how to preserve traditional values that are the foundation of community and individual existence in Africa. It also identifies the internal and external obstacles inimical to Africans’ human flourishing in philosophy, economics, politics, religion, and international relations. Furthermore, Envisioning a World without Boarder tries to propose what can be done to achieve the ideal of Pope Francis’ dream for the world.
Above all, the book holds the belief that a brighter future for Africa is within reach and can be achieved by drawing on the wisdom of its ancestors. Its concise nature makes it convenient and easy to read, making it highly recommended. Additionally, the price is quite appealing, thanks to the publisher.
This book introduces a brand-new series on Pan-African theology and pastoral studies, aiming to share the stories of the Holy Spirit’s work within the African context. As one of the contributors, I strongly urge young theological students in Africa to make space for this book on their personal bookshelves. The theme of fraternity is bound to play a significant role in theological discussions for the foreseeable future, and this book marks only the start of our journey.
Dr Ikenna U. Okafor
University of Vienna, Austria
Editor-in-chief of the PACTPAN Series.
