Message from Mqapheli Bonono from Rome

Our Deputy President, Mqapheli Bonono, is currently in Rome for the Fifth World Meeting of Popular Movements convened by Pope Leo XIV who is continuing the commitment to the social gospel preached by Pope Francis. Here is the transcription of a voice note received from Comrade Bonono.

Before I left the country, I was quite emotional, questioning myself — do I really have the power to carry all the pain of Abahlali? I thought of all the suffering and the pain that we have been through as a movement, and of all the oppressed people in the entire country; the people of Palestine, the people of Congo, the people of South Sudan that are suffering, the people of the world. And, of course, myself, my own pain as a person and as a leader, who has also gone through some difficult processes — surviving an assassination attempt, being imprisoned.

When I arrived in Rome it was raining — a sign of blessings. We met with the comrades from the other movements at an occupation called Spin Time — where 400 people, including migrants, have occupied a building that used to be owned by the government. There were comrades from all over the world — MST, MTST, movements from Guatemala, from all continents.

We started the two days of intense discussions, where we had to present all the suffering of the oppressed people of the world and put together a document that was presented to the Pope on Thursday. It all came with a lot of emotion and reflection. When I got the opportunity to speak, to present the suffering of Abahlali, I made sure I did not leave out the suffering, that I did justice to it.

When I had to present, we also had faith-based organisations in the room. They like to talk about peace. To me, the question of peace was very difficult — how can you find peace when justice is not being served, especially for people who have been pushed away from having a place on the earth, some respect in this world?

It was very encouraging to listen carefully to the explanation of the vision of Pope Francis when he established this space — a space to recognise and bring closer the leaders of oppressed people, to listen to them. He described the work of the popular movements as the continuation of the work of God.

It was a very moving time when we marched yesterday to St Peter’s Square. As we walked in, of course, what comes to your mind is that the Pope will come and pray for you. But it was very powerful when he sat down and listened to us.

We presented the document we had worked on together, and he responded very positively. Some of the things he said were very emotional to me — hearing him affirm that the work we do for housing, land, and dignity is necessary work, work that must be supported by the whole world.

He said that the poor are at the centre of the Gospel, that the church must walk with popular movements, that housing, work and land are sacred rights. He said that we must fight for them, and that he is with us. He said that Jesus has hidden His face in that of the poor.

It was good to hear the Pope commit himself to our fight, to hear him say that he has heard us, and we must not hesitate. He said that he knows that people in the peripheries are, and he wants us to know that he is with us and working with us.
He also said that he is walking with us and relying on us — that we are the ones who can make the beauty of this land, not him. He said he expects us to continue the work we are doing in our respective struggles, and that we must remain humble.

I give credit to the people in the Spin Time occupation, people living there and running their classes and projects there. It was very significant for us to spend time with them.

This morning we will go and pay our respects at Pope Francis’s grave.