The Papal spokesman, Jesuit father Federico Lombardi speaks of the spiritual and pastoral
success of Pope Benedict's visit to Benin.
Interviewed by Vatican Radio's father
Moses Hamungole, Lombardi says that for the Vatican it is important that the authorities
welcome the Pope, but it is even more important that the people be happy, and he points
out - the enthousiasm expressed by the people during these past three days is particularly
significant.
He says Benedict was impressed by the joy expressed in the peoples'
dancing, singing and smiling faces. He says the people understand that the Pope, the
Catholic Church loves them, all of them - not only the Catholcs and the Christians.
This Lombardi points out was clear in the Pope's words when he speaks of the dignity
of the human person and of the human, spiritual, economic and social devlelopment
which must take place in freedom, reconciliation and peace. The message of the synodal
document - Lombardi explains - expresses what every man and woman in the world desires:
to be reconciled and to live in peace with the other, and to have hope for the future.
This he says is the substance of this message.
And the Gospel, Lombardi says,
shows us the right way to realise this kind of the development.
Lombardi says
that for him the most significant moment of the journey was the final eucharistic
celebration.
However, he also singles out the discourse to those responsible
for society strong words for politicians and civil servants.
Another highlilght
- he says - was the moment of dialogue with other religious communities and tyraditions.
This he said was a crucial moment for the Pope's message which calls Africans to take
responsibility for their own future, and to build a new Africa for this millenium.
Dialogue
- he says - must be constructive and build on good traditions. Africa Lombardi points
out, has a profound spiritual richness, but this richness has to be purified of fears
and aspects that do not live ujp to the reality of human dignity. Here the Gospel
can help in purifying the spiritual dimension of the African soul.
Fr. Lombardi
also highlights the Pope's meeting with children because, he says, they represent
the future and need to be protected and helped to grow.
In relationship to
the meeting with the children Lombardi comments on the fact children need to be understood,
to be loved, to be taken seriously, to be helped to grow because they can give incredible
richness to mankind, but they need the help of responsible people who love them. Their
future also depends on the love given to them.
The number of children we seen
on the streets in Africa - he says - really highlights how important it is to take
responsiblity for them.
As regards the Apostolic Exhortation Lombardi says
the Pope especially came to Oudiah to sign this document. He came to bring the gospel
of the Lord to Africa. He came representing the Universal Church that is in Africa.
Here - Lombardi stresses - the Pope is at home, he is not someone who comes "from
Rome", he is not a stranger, a foreigner, he is African bercause he is responsible
for the faith in Africa.
and speaking of the synodal document, Lombardi elaborates
on the theme of "hope" for Africa saying that this is really the key to understand
how the Pope's words and the document are the expression of the positive reality of
Africa, the awareness of the possibilities that are here for the future.
Reconciliation,
Justice and Peace are a realisticm horizon, he says, if there is this strong hope
grounded in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.