Pope Benedict’s Message to the Pontifical Council for Culture Conference at Bagamoyo, Tanzania.

(July 24, 2008) This mission “is ancient yet ever new, a task which has its origin in the mystery of the incarnation itself and its motivation in the innate ability of the Gospel to take root in every culture,” said Pope Benedict XVI in his message to the meeting organized by the Pontifical Council for Culture taking place in Bagamoyo, Tanzania, from 22 to 26 July. Mgr. Gianfranco Ravasi, President of the Pontifical Council for Culture, read this message at the conference. The Pontifical Council for Culture was founded on 20 May 1982 by Pope Paul II and on 25 March 1993, the Pope merged the Pontifical Council for Dialogue with Non-Believers with the Pontifical Council for Culture. The Council deals with the differences between the Gospel and cultures, and indifference in matters of religion. It is also concerned with relationships between the Holy See and the world of culture. The current message further added that His Holiness will accompany them all in his prayers as they reflect on the Pastoral Prospects for the New Evangelization in the Context of Globalization and its Effects on African Cultures. Their study includes the two-fold task of evangelization of culture and inculturation of the Gospel, the message said. The Holy Father would pray that their deliberations will assist the Church in Africa to find new and effective ways of presenting the unchanging truth of the Gospel and especially the values of the joy of life, respect for the unborn child, the important role of the family, and a deep sense of communion and solidarity which are present in African cultures.