(October 29, 2011) Pope Benedict XVI, on Saturday, strongly defended the absolute
sacredness of life, at all its stages and conditions, against the abominable practices
of witchcraft, and the ritual sacrifice of children and aged in Angola and elsewhere
in Africa. He was addressing a group of 26 prelates of Angola, and São Tomé on their
five-yearly ad limina visit to Rome, to report on the status of their respective
dioceses. The Angolan bishops shared with the Pope their great concern that the hearts
of the baptized were torn between Christianity and traditional African religions.
The Pontiff encouraged them to join forces with all men of goodwill in civil and ecclesial
society to educate the faithful in the basic tenets of Christianity. The Pope also
urged Christians to oppose society customs that threaten the values of marriage and
the family. He called upon all church communities to work towards the eradication
of all ethnic ritual practices contrary to humanity. And he finally summoned the faithful
of Angola and São Tomé, to maintain Christian unity that rises above ethnic differences,
and readily accepts pastors and faithful of other ethnical groups that enter their
areas.