Subject: VISnews 111118   
   Organization: VIS   
   From: Vatican Information Service - Eng - txt    
      
   VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE   
      
   TWENTY FIRST YEAR - N. 200   
   ENGLISH   
   FRIDAY, 18 NOVEMBER 2011   
      
   SUMMARY OF THE POPE'S APOSTOLIC TRIP TO BENIN:   
      
   - Benin: Transition from Tradition to Modernity   
      
   OTHER NEWS:   
      
   - Notice   
      
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   BENIN: TRANSITION FROM TRADITION TO MODERNITY   
      
   VATICAN CITY, 18 NOV 2011 (VIS) - This morning Benedict XVI began the   
   twenty-second apostolic trip of his pontificate which is taking him to Benin   
   where, on Sunday, he will sign the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation of the   
   Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops.   
      
     The Pope departed from Fiumicino airport in Rome at 9 a.m., landing at the   
   Cardinal Bernardin Gantin airport in Cotonou at 3 p.m. On arrival he was   
   greeted by Thomas Yayi Boni, president of Benin, Archbishop Antoine Ganye of   
   Cotonou, and other civil and religious authorities.   
      
     In his address, the Pope enumerated three reasons for his visit to the   
   country: the invitation he had received from the president and the members   
   of the Episcopal Conference of Benin, which this year celebrates the 150th   
   anniversary of evangelisation; the signing of the Post-Synodal Apostolic   
   Exhortation "Africae Munus", and the third "more personal and more emotive"   
   reason of praying before the tomb of Cardinal Gantin and thanking "Benin for   
   having given the Church such a distinguished son".   
      
     The Holy Father continued: "Benin is a country of ancient and noble   
   traditions. Her history is significant. I am pleased to take this   
   opportunity to greet the traditional chiefs. Their contribution is important   
   in the construction of the country's future. I would like to encourage them   
   to contribute, with their wisdom and understanding of local customs, in the   
   delicate transition currently under way from tradition to modernity.   
      
     "Modernity", he added, "need not provoke fear, but neither can it be   
   constructed by neglecting the past. It 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 politicisation of inter-religious   
   tensions to the detriment of the common good, or finally the erosion of   
   human, cultural, ethical and religious values. The transition to modernity   
   must be guided by sure criteria ... rooted in the dignity of the person, the   
   importance of the family and respect for life. All of these values 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".   
      
     "The Church, for her part, offers her own specific contribution", the Pope   
   concluded. "By her presence, her prayer and her various works of mercy,   
   especially in education and health care, she wishes to give her best to   
   everyone. She wants to be close to those who are in need, near to those who   
   search for God. She wants to make it understood that God is neither absent   
   nor irrelevant as some would have us believe but that He is the friend of   
   man. It is in this spirit of friendship and of fraternity that I come to   
   your country".   
   PV-BENIN/                                                               VIS   
   20111118 (490)   
      
   NOTICE   
      
   VATICAN CITY, 18 NOV 2011 (VIS) - VIS informs its readers that special   
   bulletins will be transmitted on Saturday 19 November and Sunday 20   
   November, continuing coverage of Benedict XVI's apostolic trip to Benin.   
   .../                                                                    VIS   
   20111118 (40)   
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