By Marija Belosevic*

The 109th World Esperanto Congress took place in the Tanzanian city of Arusha from August 3 to 10, 2024. It is one of the most important congresses for Esperanto speakers, attended by 850 people from 66 countries and five continents.

Various programs took place during the week, including special, scientific and cultural programs. The International Union of Catholic Esperantists (IKUE – Internacia Katolika Unuiĝo Esperantista) played a key role in the event.

The theme of the conference was “Language, Man and Environment for a Better World”, and the International Union of Catholic Esperantists had published two important translations into Esperanto: the encyclical “Laudato Si” and the second one dealing with the apostolic plea “Laudate Deum”. The translated texts are the result of the collaboration of about ten experienced Esperanto translators.

During the congress, presentations of both editions took place, which sparked an interesting discussion on the protection of the environment and awareness of the preservation of “our common home”.

The President of IKUE, Marija Belošević, delivered a speech on the topic “Laudato Si” to contribute to the general theme of the Congress.

During the Congress week, IKUE organised an ecumenical service and mass celebrated in the Cathedral of Saint Teresa of the Child Jesus by Esperanto-speaking priest Gabriel Anda from the Diocese of Edea in Cameroon.

This congress, which was held for the first time in Africa, provided an opportunity for many local Esperantists, many of whom are excellent speakers of the international language, to meet and exchange ideas. Many were also interested in the Catholic Esperantist movement.

The Catholic Esperantists founded their organization at the beginning of the 20th century.th Century. Immediately after the publication of two handbooks and dictionaries by Lazzaro Ludovico Zamenhof in 1887, a strong interest in the language developed among Catholics.

The pioneer of the Catholic Esperantist movement was Father Emile Peltier, who in 1903 dedicated himself to the publication of the international magazine “Espero Katolika” (Catholic Hope), an official organ of the IKUE, which is today one of the oldest Esperanto magazines in the world.

Catholic Esperantists met for the first time in 1905 in Boulogne sur Mer, where the first mass was held in Esperanto. Zamenhof was also there. In Barcelona, ​​Catholics organized several congresses in 1909, which culminated in the first Catholic Esperanto Congress in Paris on April 1, 1910, also known as IKUE.

In 1990, decrees of the Congregation for Divine Worship containing norms for the celebration of Mass in Esperanto made it possible to publish an Esperanto Missal.

On February 11, 1992, the IKUE was recognized as a private association of believers by a decree of the Pontifical Council for the Laity.

The charism of the IKUE is to follow, through the Esperanto language, Jesus’ commandment “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15) and, through the use of the international language in its liturgy and apostolic action, to demonstrate the unity of the Church and to contribute to mutual understanding between people.

Publications and information: The IKUE magazine “Espero Katolika” and the Esperanto broadcasts of Vatican Radio disseminate the teachings of the Church in Esperanto.

Over the last four years, IKUE has also worked intensively in the virtual field. Congresses and conferences are organized and every day a unique rosary is held, in which Esperantists from different parts of the world participate: Brazil, Cuba, the USA, European countries, South Korea and the Philippines.

Charitable actions have increased. In concrete terms, continuous support is being provided to a parish in Cameroon (Mouanko, Diocese of Edea), where IKUE has installed solar panels, started a fish farming project and founded a school for children.

The patron saints of Catholic Esperantists are: Our Lady’s Hope, Saint Pius X, Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Saint John Paul II and Saint Titus Brandsma.

*President of the International Union of Catholic Esperantists