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“Do not resist the Spirit.”

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Dear Sons and Daughters of Togo,
Men and Women of goodwill,

In this Easter season of the Holy Year 2025, the Church has joyfully received the first words of the new Supreme Pontiff, Pope Leo XIV—words taken from Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace: “Peace be with you” (John 20:21). We, the Bishops of Togo, extend this same peace to all of you—sons and daughters, leaders and political actors of our beloved country, Togo.

As we celebrate the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Church prepares for the blessed day of Pentecost, in which we commemorate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles—filling them with fire, strength, and faith to proclaim the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

This is the Spirit of truth, peace, and consolation, but also of power and transformation.
Even today, this Spirit, which did not remain confined to the Upper Room, continues to act. He desires to dwell in each of us, to renew our hearts, to enliven our communities, and to make us bold witnesses of the Risen Christ. He calls us to step out of our fears, lukewarmness, confinement, and confusion, and to bring light wherever darkness and doubt still prevail.

Let us not resist the Spirit; let us not quench Him. On the contrary, let us welcome Him fully, allowing Him to pray within us, act through us, and lead us to where God awaits us.
The Church cannot live without the breath of the Spirit, and each of us is called to be a channel of this divine presence in the world.

Attentive to this Holy Spirit, to the signs of the times, and to the sentiments of the Togolese people—and out of love for our Nation—we, the Bishops of Togo, wish once again to express our deep concern regarding the current sociopolitical evolution in our country.

As you will recall, dear Sons and Daughters, Men and Women of goodwill, in March 2024, we, members of the Conference of Bishops of Togo, called the attention of the Togolese authorities to the appropriateness—or lack thereof—of amending the Constitution of our country without genuinely consulting the sovereign People. With a sense of responsibility and in a spirit of peace, we urged the Head of State to refrain from promulgating a new Constitution adopted by a National Assembly at the end of its mandate. Unfortunately, our calls were not heeded.

On May 3, 2025, our country officially transitioned from the Fourth to the Fifth Republic, in a context marked by deep tensions, heavy hearts, and widespread frustration caused by the population’s precarious living conditions. This change, carried out without genuine national dialogue, has given rise to confusion and poses serious threats to Togo’s social cohesion and stability.

We are deeply convinced that the country is heading toward danger by allowing frustration to simmer. For a nation cannot be built on imposed silence, on fear instilled and sustained, on the disregard for its people’s voice, or on stubborn efforts to convince the people of what is untrue. Suppressed fears and frustrations eventually manifest in desperate acts, and silent anger can turn into unpredictable explosions.

In the face of this worrisome situation, we issue this urgent appeal: Let us not resist the Spirit.

  • May the authorities become aware of the growing discontent among the population;
  • May the voice of the People be heard with respect and taken into account;
  • May a path of appeasement be initiated with discernment, through the holding of a true, frank, sincere, inclusive, and constructive dialogue.

We commend the resilience and maturity of the Togolese people, who continue to show patience and dignity despite adversity. But let us remember that resilience does not mean resignation. Moreover, true peace cannot be built without justice, truth, and sincere dialogue.

We urge all stakeholders in national life—political actors, civil society, defense and security forces, religious denominations—to work together to safeguard the unity, peace, and future of our country.

We invite all Catholic Christians to intensify prayers for justice, peace, dignity, and respect for the rights of all citizens. We ask that this intention be carried in prayer during the novena leading up to Pentecost, from Friday, May 30 to Saturday, June 7, 2025.

Come, Holy Spirit, into our hearts, and send forth from heaven a ray of your light. Come, set our lives ablaze; come, renew your Church; come, transform our country, Togo, and the world with your love.

Issued in Lomé, May 26, 2025

Signed by:

  • His Excellency Bishop Benoît ALOWONOU
    Bishop of Kpalimé, President of the CET
  • His Excellency Bishop Jacques Danka LONGA
    Bishop of Kara, Vice-President of the CET
  • His Excellency Bishop Isaac Jogues GAGLO
    Bishop of Aného, Apostolic Administrator of Lomé
  • His Excellency Bishop Denis AMUZU-DZAKPAH
    Archbishop Emeritus of Lomé
  • His Excellency Bishop Célestin-Marie GAOUA
    Bishop of Sokodé
  • His Excellency Bishop Dominique GUIGBILE
    Bishop of Dapaong
  • His Excellency Bishop Moïse TOUHO
    Bishop of Atakpamé
  • His Excellency Bishop Jacques N.T. ANYILUNDA
Abbé Paul DAH
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