(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.