Luanda — The coming to Angola of Pope Benedict XVI is very important, having into account that it will strengthen the Catholic Church in its work of evangelisation, reconciliation and pacifying the minds.

This was said last Tuesday to ANGOP, in Luanda's 4 de Fevereiro International Airport, by the emeritus bishop of the United Methodist Church, Emílio de Carvalho, moments before leaving for the United States of America, in order to participate from 1 to 7 November in the Bishops Council of that religious congregation.

To the bishop, most of the Angolan population is Catholic and the visit of the top leader of the Catholic Church will help believers to have the Pope's grace and blessing, he said.

Pope Benedict XVI will visit Angola from 20 to 23 March next year, at the invitation of the Angolan President, José Eduardo dos Santos.

For this effect, a delegation from the Vatican will arrive in Angola next week, so as to prepare the Pope's visit.

On his turn, Dom Ângelo Beccio, the nuncio in this country, said Angola deserves the visit of Pope Benedict XVI, mainly due to the suffering experienced by the Angolan people.

This is the second time Angola is visited by a Pope. In 1992, the late Pope John Paul II visited the country.