On a three day pastoral visit to Benin, Pope Benedict XVI spoke Saturday to students,
religious and lay people at the St. Gall Seminary in Ouidah. We publish the English
translation of his discourse below:
Your Eminences, Dear Brother Bishops
and Priests, Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I cordially thank the Secretary
General of the Synod of Bishops, Archbishop Nikola Eterović, for his words of welcome
and presentation, as well as all the members of the Special Council for Africa who
helped to collate the results of the Synodal Assembly in preparation for the publication
of the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation. Today, the celebration of the Synod
concludes with the signing of the Exhortation Africae Munus. The Synod gave an impetus
to the Catholic Church in Africa, which prayed, reflected on and discussed the theme
of reconciliation, justice and peace. This process was marked by a special closeness
uniting the Successor of Peter and the Particular Churches in Africa. Bishops, but
also experts, auditors, special guests and fraternal delegates, all came to Rome to
celebrate this important ecclesial event. I myself went to Yaoundé to present the
Instrumentum Laboris of the Synod to the Presidents of the Bishops’ Conferences, as
a sign of my interest and concern for all the peoples of the African continent and
the neighbouring islands. I now have the joy of returning to Africa, and particularly
to Benin, to consign this final document, which takes up the reflections of the Synod
Fathers and presents them synthetically as part of a broad pastoral vision.
[in
French]
The Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops benefited
from the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in Africa of Blessed John Paul
II, which emphasized the urgent need to evangelize this continent, an activity which
cannot be separated from the work of human promotion. The Exhortation also developed
the concept of the Church as God’s Family. This concept has borne many spiritual
fruits for the Catholic Church and for the activity of evangelization and human promotion
which she has carried out in African society as a whole. The Church is called to
see herself increasingly as a family. For Christians, this means being a community
of believers which praises the triune God, celebrates the great mysteries of our faith
and enlivens with charity relationships between individuals, groups and nations, above
and beyond ethnic, cultural and religious differences. In offering this service to
everyone, the Church is open to cooperation with all the components of society, particularly
with the representatives of the Churches and Ecclesial Communities not yet in full
communion with the Catholic Church, as well as with the representatives of the non-Christian
religions, above all those of traditional religions and of Islam. Within this
ecclesial horizon, the Second Special Assembly for Africa concentrated on the theme
of reconciliation, justice and peace. These are important issues for the world in
general, but they take on a particular urgency in Africa. We need but recall the
tensions, the acts of violence, the wars, the injustices and abuses of all sorts,
new and old, which have marked this year. The principal theme was that of reconciliation
with God and with one’s neighbour. But a Church reconciled within herself and among
all her members can become a prophetic sign of reconciliation in society within each
country and the continent as a whole. Saint Paul writes: “All this is from God, who
reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation”
(2 Cor 5:18). The basis of this reconciliation is found in the very nature of the
Church, which “in Christ, is a sacrament – a sign and instrument that is, of communion
with God and of the unity of the entire human race” (Lumen Gentium, 1). Following
on this assembly, the Church in Africa is called to promote peace and justice. The
Gate of No Return, as well as that of Pardon, remind us of this duty and impel us
to combat every form of slavery.
[in Portuguese]
We must never give
up the search for new paths of peace! Peace is one of our greatest treasures! To
attain peace, we need to have courage and the reconciliation born of forgiveness,
the will once more to live as one, to share a vision of the future and to persevere
in overcoming difficulties. Men and women reconciled and at peace with God and neighbour
can work for greater justice in society. Let us not forget that the Gospel teaches
that justice means above all doing God’s will. This fundamental resolve spawns countless
initiatives aimed at promoting justice in Africa and the welfare of all its peoples,
especially the most disadvantaged and those in need of employment, schools and hospitals. Africa,
land of a New Pentecost, put your trust in God! Impelled by the Spirit of the Risen
Christ, become God’s great family, generous with all your sons and daughters, agents
of reconciliation, peace and justice! Africa, Good News for the Church, become Good
News for the entire world!