2011-11-18 16:01:31

Pope Benedict begins pastoral visit to Benin


(November 18, 2011) Pope Benedict XVI on Friday began a three-day pastoral visit to Benin, where on Sunday he will present his Apostolic Exhortation based on the recommendations of the Special Synod of Bishops for Africa held in the Vatican in 2009. After a 6-hour flight from Rome the Pope arrived at Cardinal Bernadin Gantin International Airport of the Beninese capital Cotounou, where he was given a state reception. In his first speech on Beninese soil the Pope encouraged the West African nation in its transition from tradition to modernity keeping in mind the good of all. Speaking in French, the Pope said that the transition from tradition to modernity “needs to be accompanied by prudence for the good of all in order to avoid the pitfalls which exist on the African continent and elsewhere, such as unconditional surrender to the law of the market or that of finance, nationalism or exaggerated and sterile tribalism which can become destructive, a politicization of interreligious tensions to the detriment of the common good, or finally the erosion of human, cultural, ethical and religious values. In this transition, the Pope said, they must be guided by sure criteria based on recognized virtues, which are listed in their national motto, but equally which are firmly rooted in the dignity of the person, the importance of the family and respect for life. All of these values, he said, exist in view of the common good which must take first place, and which must constitute the primary concern of all in positions of responsibility.
Pope Benedict said he had come to Benin on the invitation of President Thomas Yayi Boni and the bishops of the country that is marking 40 year’s of its diplomatic relations with the Holy See, as well as the 150th anniversary of its evangelization. He said he was in Africa to release the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation “Africae Munus” the Latin for ‘Africa’s commitment’, which he hoped will bear much fruit. The Holy Father said another reason for his visit to Benin was very personal. He wanted to visit the country of his long-time colleague, Cardinal Bernardin Gantin who died in 2008, with whom he spent many years in the Vatican in the service of the Church under Blessed John Paul II. He wanted to pray at the tomb of the late cardinal and to thank Benin for having given the Church such a distinguished son. This is Pope Benedict’s 22nd pastoral visit outside Italy and his second to Africa after that of 2009 when he visited Cameroun and Angola.








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