Catholic Information Service for Africa (Nairobi)
29 October 2008
Pope Benedict XVI will make his maiden visit to Africa in March 2009, he announced on Sunday.
The pope will visit Cameroon to entrust the working document for the Second Synod for Africa to representatives of the bishops' conferences of the continent. "From there", the pope said, "God willing, I will go on to Angola to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the evangelisation of that country".
The pope made the announcement when he presided at a Eucharistic concelebration to close of the Twelfth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops which has been held in the Vatican from October 5 to 26 on the theme: "The Word of God in the Life and the Mission of the Church".
The news of the visit was received with excitement in the two African nations. In Angola, the state-owned press agency ANGOP described the visit as "important and historic."
The event promises to be of "extremely high relevance", said Fr Tomas Julião, vicar of Menongue Diocese. "It is a benediction and an appreciation for our country that is being held in esteem again after the conquest of peace" said Fr Tomas, referring to the long civil war that ended in 2002. "It is a gift for Angola," he added,"for the people who have suffered the plagues of the conflict".
The pope's visit, the second by a pontiff to Angola after the visit of John Paul II in 1992, "shall serve to confirm and share the faith of Christians such that they might be good witnesses of the message of Christ in the world," Fr Joaquim Eugenio told ANGOP in nation's capital, Luanda.
Speaking to Vatican Radio, Monsignor Giovanni Angelo Becciu, the apostolic nuncio to Angola, said that news of the arrival of Benedict XVI in Angola was received with surprise and excitement.
"The pope's visit is seen as a moment to consolidate the socio-economic development that the country is witnessing. It is hoped that the pope's voice might offer new paths leading to a greater respect for social justice. Everyone has the sensation that the Holy Father's choice to visit Angola has come as a response to their commitment to lead the country out of a dark period".
The apostolic nuncio to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, resident in Yaounde, Monsignor Eliseo Ariotti, said the pope's visit will be "a gift to Cameroon," the Post newspaper reported. Pope John Paul II visited Cameroon twice, in 1985 and 1995.
Reacting to the news of the pope's visit to Cameroon, Fr. Aloysius Ituka Ndifor, the principal of St Joseph's College Sasse in Buea, said it was a pastor coming to visit his people. Cameroonians should take the visit as a special favour from the successor of St. Peter. We look forward to that maiden visit with great excitement, joy and continuous prayers," he said.
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