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Pope Benedict XVI- Angelus |
Angelus Message
On the Pope's Trip to Cameroon and Angola
"I Intend to Embrace the Whole African Continent"
H.H. Benedict XVI
March 15, 2009
www.zenit.org
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
I will be making my first apostolic visit to Africa from Tuesday,
March 17, to Monday, March 23. I will travel to Cameroon and to its
capital, Yaoundé, to deliver the “instrumentum laboris” for the
Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops, which
will take place in October here in the Vatican. From there I will
travel to Luanda, the capital of Angola, a country that, after a
long civil war, has found peace again and is now called to rebuild
itself in justice.
With this visit I intend to embrace the whole African continent: its
thousands of differences and profound religious soul; its ancient
cultures and its toilsome road to development and reconciliation;
its grave problems, its painful wounds and its enormous
possibilities and hopes. I intend to confirm the African Catholics
in faith, to encourage the Christians in their ecumenical
commitment, and bring to all the announcement of peace that the Lord
has entrusted to his Church.
As I prepare myself for this missionary journey, in my soul resounds
the words of the Apostle Paul that the liturgy proposes for our
meditation on this third Sunday of Lent: “We proclaim Christ
crucified,” the Apostle writes to the Christians of Corinth, “a
scandal to the Jews and foolishness to the pagans; but for those who
are called, whether Jews or Greeks, Christ the power of God and the
wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:23-24).
Yes, dear brothers and sisters! I depart for African with the
awareness of having nothing else to propose and give to those whom I
will meet if not Christ and the Good News of his cross, mystery of
supreme love, of divine love that defeats all human resistance and
in the end makes forgiveness and love of enemies possible. This is
the grace of the Gospel that is capable of transforming the world;
this is the grace that can renew Africa, because it generates an
irresistible power of peace and of deep and radical reconciliation.
The Church does not pursue economic, social and political
objectives; the Church proclaims Christ, certain that the Gospel can
touch the hearts of all and transform them, renewing persons and
society from within.
On March 19, during the pastoral visit to Africa, we will celebrate
the Solemnity of St. Joseph, patron of the universal Church, and my
personal patron. St. Joseph, warned in a dream by an angel, had to
flee with Mary to Egypt, in Africa, to take the newly born Jesus to
a safe place, far from King Herod who wanted to kill him. The
Scriptures were thus fulfilled: Jesus followed in the footsteps of
the patriarchs of old and, like the people of Israel, reentered the
Promised Land after having been in exile in Egypt. To the heavenly
intercession of this great saint I entrust this upcoming pilgrimage
and the peoples of all of Africa, with the challenges that face them
and the hopes that animate them. I think especially of the victims
of hunger, disease, injustices, of the fratricidal conflicts and of
every form of violence that, unfortunately, continues to strike
adults and children, without sparing missionaries, priests,
religious, and volunteers. Brothers and sisters, accompany me on
this trip with your prayers, invoking Mary, Mother and Queen of
Africa.
[The Pope greeted the pilgrims in various languages. In Italian, he
said:]
This morning the Pauline Jubilee of University Students and
Professors, promoted by the Congregation for Catholic Education and
the Pontifical Council for Culture, and organized by the Vicariate
of Rome, concludes in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.
The Jubilee’s theme was “What You Unknowingly Worship, I Proclaim to
You: Gospel and Culture Toward a New Humanism.”
I am very glad for the presence of illustrious professors and
delegates from university chaplaincies from every continent here in
Rome. I would like for pastoral ministries at universities to
develop in all the local Churches, for the formation of young people
and the elaboration of a culture inspired by the Gospel. Dear
university students and professors, I encourage you and I accompany
you in prayer.
[Translation by Joseph G. Trabbic]
[In English, he said:]
I welcome all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors present at
today’s Angelus. As we continue our Lenten journey may our resolve
to follow Jesus be strengthened through prayer, forgiveness, fasting
and assistance to those in need. This Tuesday I leave Rome for my
visit to Cameroon and Angola. My presence in the great Continent of
Africa forms part of the preparation for the Special Assembly of the
Synod of Bishops dedicated to the theme: "The Church in Africa in
Service to Reconciliation, Justice and Peace". I ask each of you to
join me in praying that my visit will be a time of spiritual renewal
for all Africans and an occasion in which civic and religious
leaders will strengthen their resolve to walk the path of justice,
integrity and compassion. May the lives of African men, women and
children be transformed in hope! Upon all of you gathered and your
loved ones, I gladly invoke the strength and peace of Christ the
Lord.
© Copyright 2009 -- Libreria Editrice Vaticana
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