Subject: VISnews 111119
Organization: VIS
From: Vatican Information Service - Eng - txt
VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
TWENTY FIRST YEAR - N. 201
ENGLISH
SATURDAY, 19 NOVEMBER 2011
SUMMARY OF THE POPE'S APOSTOLIC TRIP TO BENIN: 18 - 19 NOVEMBER
- Africa: a Great Store of Vitality for the Future
- Holy Father Visits the Cathedral Of Cotonou
- Do Not Deprive Your Peoples of Hope!
- Without Holiness, the Ministry Is Merely a Social Function
- Signing of Apostolic Exhortation "Africae Munus"
- Key Ideas and Principal Themes of "Africae Munus"
OTHER NEWS:
- Other Pontifical Acts
___________________________________________________________
AFRICA: A GREAT STORE OF VITALITY FOR THE FUTURE
VATICAN CITY, 18 NOV 2011 (VIS) - This morning, during his flight to Benin,
the Holy Father responded to a number of questions put to him by Holy See
Press Office Director Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J. in the name of the
journalists accompanying them on the papal plane.
Explaining why he chose Benin to launch the Post-Synodal Apostolic
Exhortation "Africae munus", which is addressed to the entire continent of
Africa, Benedict XVI said: "There are a number of reasons. The first is that
Benin is a country at peace, both externally and internally. Its democratic
institutions work; they were created in a spirit of freedom and
responsibility, and therefore justice and commitment to the common good are
possible and guaranteed. ... The second reason is that, as in most African
countries, there are a number of religions, peacefully existing one next to
the other. There are Christians of different denominations, ... Muslims and
traditional religions, and these different faiths live in mutual respect and
share responsibility for peace and reconciliation, both internally and
externally. ... Inter-religious dialogue is a factor for peace and freedom,
and it is also an important aspect of the Post-Synodal Apostolic
Exhortation.
"Finally, the third reason is that this is the country of my dear friend,
Cardinal Bernardin Gantin, and I had always wanted to come and pray one day
over his grave. Truly he was a great friend to me. ... To visit the country
of Cardinal Gantin, a great representative of Catholic Africa, of humane and
civil Africa, is one of the reasons I chose to come here".
Another question put by Fr. Lombardi referred to the growth of Evangelical
and Pentecostal movements in Africa. They "present an attractive faith, a
simplification of the Christian message which lays great emphasis on healing
and mixes their own rites with those of African tradition". How, he asked,
can the Catholic Church react to this challenge? In his reply the Pope noted
that the phenomenon also exists on other continents, especially Latin
America and Africa. Such communities are characterised by a lack of
institutions, an easily understandable message, and "a participative liturgy
which lays emphasis on the expression of feelings and local culture, and on
syncretic combinations among different religions. In a way, this guarantees
their success but it also leads to instability. We also know that many
return to the Catholic Church, or migrate from one of those communities to
another.
"We must not imitate such communities", the Pope added. "Rather, we must
ask ourselves what we can do to give fresh vitality to the Catholic faith.
One point, is certainly a simple, profound but comprehensible message. It is
important that Christianity should not be seen as a difficult, European
system, ... but as a universal message that God exists, that He is concerned
with us, knows and loves us, and that religion produces collaboration and
fraternity".
Another vital factor is that "Church institutions should not too
cumbersome, that the initiative of the community and of the individual
should prevail. I would also draw attention to the importance of a
participative but not a sentimental liturgy. Liturgy must not be exclusively
based on the expression of feelings, but characterised by the presence of
the mystery, into which we enter and by which we allow ourselves to be
formed. Finally, I would say that it is important not to lose sight of the
universal aspect of inculturation. Indeed. I would prefer to speak more of
'inter-culturality' than of inculturation; in other words, of the meeting of
cultures in our shared truth of being human in our time. Thus will we grow
in universal fraternity, not losing the great gift of catholicity which
makes us brothers and sisters all over the world, a family which
collaborates in a spirit of fraternity".
The third question put to the Holy Father focused on the Church's specific
contribution to building lasting peace in Africa, in light of peacekeeping
operations and reconstruction initiatives in various African States.
"It is true", said Benedict XVI in his reply, "that many international
conferences have been held for Africa, for universal brotherhood. Fine
things have been said and sometimes positive actions have been accomplished,
we must recognise this. But it is clear that words, intentions and desires
are greater than achievements, and we must ask ourselves why this is. One
fundamental factor, I believe, is that renewal and universal brotherhood
call for sacrifice; they require us to abandon our selfishness and to exist
for others. This is easy to say but difficult to achieve. ... Only by love,
and belief in a God Who loves us, can we achieve this, daring to lose our
lives, daring to give ourselves because we know that we will gain by it".
The Holy Father then went on to explain why he believes that Africa can
bring faith and hope to the rest of the world. "Humanity", he said, "is
undergoing an increasingly rapid transformation. The last fifty or sixty
years in Africa, from postcolonial independence to our own day, have been a
very trying and difficult time, with many problems some of which have still
not been overcome. ... Nonetheless the freshness of the 'yes' to life which
exists in Africa, ... its enthusiasm and hope, show that it possesses a
great store of humanity, a freshness of religious feeling and hope. ... Thus
I would say that the new humanism in the young soul of Africa, despite the
problems which exist and will continue to exist, are proof of its great
stores of life and vitality for the future".
PV-BENIN/ VIS
20111119 (940)
HOLY FATHER VISITS THE CATHEDRAL OF COTONOU
VATICAN CITY, 18 NOV 2011 (VIS) - This afternoon, the Holy Father travelled
by popemobile to the cathedral of Our Lady of Mercy in Cotonou, where
numerous faithful were waiting to greet him.
Benedict XVI paused for a moment of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament
then went on to visit the tombs of two former archbishops of Cotonou,
Isidore de Sousa and Christophe Adimou. Following the "Te Deum" and a
greeting by the current archbishop, Msgr. Antoine Ganye, the Pope pronounced
his address. "They were heroic workers in the vineyard of the Lord", he said
referring to the two deceased prelates, "and their memory lives on in the
hearts of Catholics and innumerable other citizens of Benin. These two
bishops were, each in his own way, pastors full of zeal and charity. They
spent themselves, without counting the cost, in the service of the Gospel
and of the people of God, especially the most vulnerable. You know well that
Archbishop de Sousa was a friend of the truth and that he played a decisive
role in your country's transition to democracy".
"I invite you to meditate for a moment on [God's] infinite mercy. The
history of salvation, which culminates in the incarnation of Jesus and finds
its fulfilment in the Paschal Mystery, is a radiant revelation of the mercy
of God", which "consists not only in the remission of our sins" but also "in
the fact that God, our Father, redirects us, sometimes not without pain,
affliction or fear on our part, to the path of truth and light, for He does
not wish us to be lost. ... Looking back upon the personal history of each
individual and of the evangelisation of our countries, we can say together
with the Psalmist, 'I will sing of thy steadfast love, O Lord, for ever'".
The Holy Father continued his remarks: "The Virgin Mary experienced to the
highest degree the mystery of divine love. ... By her 'yes' to the call of
God, she contributed to the manifestation of divine love in the midst of
humanity. In this sense, she is the Mother of Mercy by her participation in
the mission of her Son: she has received the privilege of being our helper
always and everywhere. ... In Mary, we have not only a model of perfection,
but also one who helps us to realise communion with God and with our
brothers and sisters. As Mother of Mercy, she is a sure guide to the
disciples of her Son who wish to be of service to justice, to reconciliation
and to peace. ... Let us not be afraid to invoke her with confidence, she
who ceaselessly dispenses to her children abundant divine graces".
Benedict XVI then prayed to Our Lady to intercede to obtain peace for
child victims of hunger and war, for the sick and the afflicted, for
sinners, for Africa and for all humankind.
The ceremony concluded with the praying of the Our Father and the Salve
Regina, after which the Holy Father travelled by car to the apostolic
nunciature.
PV-BENIN/ VIS
20111119 (520)
DO NOT DEPRIVE YOUR PEOPLES OF HOPE!
VATICAN CITY, 19 NOV 2011 (VIS) - Shortly before 9 a.m. today Benedict XVI
arrived at the presidential palace in Cotonou, a building constructed in
1960 to mark the proclamation of Benin's independence from France. There he
met with members of the government, representatives of State institutions,
the diplomatic corps and representatives of the principal religions. Thomas
Yayi Boni, president of Benin, welcomed the Holy Father who, having greeted
those present, pronounced an address extracts of which are given below.
"When I say that Africa is a continent of hope, I am not indulging in mere
rhetoric, but simply expressing a personal conviction which is also that of
the Church. Too often, our mind is blocked by prejudices or by images which
give a negative impression of the realities of Africa, the fruit of a bleak
analysis. It is tempting to point to what does not work; it is easy to
assume the judgemental tone of the moraliser or of the expert who imposes
his conclusions and proposes, at the end of the day, few useful solutions.
It is also tempting to analyse the realities of Africa like a curious
ethnologist or like someone who sees the vast resources only in terms of
energy, minerals, agriculture and humanity easily exploited for often
dubious ends. These are reductionist and disrespectful points of view which
lead to the unhelpful 'objectification' of Africa and her inhabitants.
"To talk of hope is to talk of the future and hence of God. ... It is upon
this mixture of many contradictory and complementary elements that we must
build with the help of God. ... In the light of this experience which ought
to encourage us, I would like to mention two current African realities. The
first relates in a general way to the socio-political and economic life of
the continent, the second to inter-religious dialogue".
"During recent months, many peoples have manifested their desire for
liberty, their need for material security, and their wish to live in harmony
according to their different ethnic groups and religions. Indeed, a new
State has been born on your continent. Many conflicts have originated in
man's blindness, in his will to power and in political and economic
interests which mock the dignity of people and of nature. ... These ills
certainly afflict your continent, but they also afflict the rest of the
world. Every people wishes to understand the political and economic choices
which are made in its name. They perceive manipulation and their revenge is
sometimes violent. They wish to participate in good governance. We know that
no political regime is ideal and that no economic choice is neutral. But
these must always serve the common good. Hence we are faced with legitimate
demands, present in all countries, for greater dignity and above all for
greater humanity. Man demands that his humanity be respected and promoted.
Political and economic leaders of countries find themselves placed before
important decisions and choices which they can no longer avoid".
Ethical aspect of political and economic responsibilities
"From this place, I launch an appeal to all political and economic leaders
of African countries and the rest of the world. Do not deprive your peoples
of hope! Do not cut them off from their future by mutilating their present!
Adopt a courageous ethical approach to your responsibilities and, if you are
believers, ask God to grant you wisdom! ... Power, such as it is, easily
blinds, above all when private, family, ethnic or religious interests are at
stake. God alone purifies hearts and intentions.
"The Church does not propose any technical solution and does not impose
any political solution. She repeats: do not be afraid! Humanity is not alone
before the challenges of the world. God is present. There is a message of
hope, hope which generates energy, which stimulates the intellect and gives
the will all its dynamism. ... Hope is communion. Is not this a wonderful
path that is placed before us? I ask all political and economic leaders, as
well those of the university and cultural realms to join it. May you also be
sowers of hope!"
Inter-religious dialogue
"I do not think it is necessary to recall the recent conflicts born in the
name of God, or deaths brought about in the name of Him Who is life.
Everyone of good sense understands that a serene and respectful dialogue
about cultural and religious differences must be promoted. True
inter-religious dialogue rejects humanly self-centred truth, because the one
and only truth is in God. ... Hence, no religion, and no culture may justify
appeal or recourse to intolerance and violence. Aggression is an outmoded
relational form which appeals to superficial and ignoble instincts. To use
the revealed word, the Sacred Scriptures or the name of God to justify our
interests, our easy and convenient policies or our violence, is a very grave
fault.
"I can only come to a knowledge of the other if I know myself. ...
Knowledge, deeper understanding and practice of one's religion, are
therefore essential to true inter-religious dialogue. ... Everyone ought
therefore to place himself in truth before God and before the other. This
truth does not exclude and it is not confusion. Inter-religious dialogue
when badly understood leads to muddled thinking or to syncretism. This is
not the dialogue which is sought".
"We know that sometimes inter-religious dialogue is not easy or that it is
impeded for various reasons. This does not necessarily indicate failure.
There are many forms of inter-religious dialogue. Cooperation in social or
cultural areas can help people to understand each other better and to live
together serenely. It is also useful to know that dialogue does not take
place through weakness but because of belief in God. Dialogue is another way
of loving God and our neighbour without abdicating what we are".
Promoting a pedagogy of dialogue
"Having hope does not mean being ingenuous but making an act of faith in a
better future. Thus the Catholic Church puts into action one of the
intuitions of the Second Vatican Council, that of promoting friendly
relations between herself and the members of non-Christian religions. ... I
greet all religious leaders who have kindly come here to meet me. I would
like to assure them, as well as those from other African countries, that the
dialogue offered by the Catholic Church comes from the heart. I encourage
them to promote, above all among the young people, a pedagogy of dialogue,
so that they may discover that our conscience is a sanctuary to be respected
and that our spiritual dimension builds fraternity".
"To finish, I would like to use the image of a hand. There are five
fingers on it and each one is quite different. Each one is also essential
and their unity makes a hand. A good understanding between cultures,
consideration for each other which is not condescending, and the respect of
the rights of each one are a vital duty. This must be taught to all the
faithful of the various religions. Hatred is a failure, indifference is an
impasse, and dialogue is an openness! Is this not good ground in which seeds
of hope may be sown? To offer someone your hand means to hope, later, to
love. ... Together with our heart and our intelligence, our hand too can
become an instrument of dialogue. It can make hope flourish, above all when
our intelligence stammers and our heart stumbles".
"To be afraid, to doubt and to fear, to live in the present without God,
or to have nothing to hope for, these are all attitudes which are foreign to
the Christian faith and, I am convinced, to all other forms of belief in
God. ... Following Peter, of whom I am a successor, I hope that your faith
and hope will be in God. This is my wish for the whole of Africa, which is
so dear to me! Africa, be confident and rise up! The Lord is calling you".
Having concluded his address, the Pope held a brief meeting with the
president of the Republic in the latter's private study, during which the
two men exchanged gifts. Benedict XVI then signed the visitor's book and
greeted members of Thomas Yayi Boni's family.
PV-BENIN/ VIS
20111119 (1390)
WITHOUT HOLINESS, THE MINISTRY IS MERELY A SOCIAL FUNCTION
VATICAN CITY, 19 NOV 2011 (VIS) - At 11 a.m. today, the Holy Father arrived
at the Seminary of St. Gall in Ouidah where he visited the tombs of Cardinal
Bernardin Gantin, the first African to head a dicastery of the Roman Curia,
and of his mentor, Msgr. Louis Parisot S.M.A., the first archbishop of
Cotonou and apostolic vicar of Dahomey and Ouidah.
The Pope addressed the hundreds of priests, religious, seminarians and lay
people who were awaiting his arrival in the courtyard of the seminary
building, expressing his joy at meeting them and his gratitude for the
pastoral work they carry out, often in difficult circumstances.
He recalled how the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation "Africae munus"
focuses on the themes of peace, justice and reconciliation. "These three
values stand out as an evangelical ideal fundamental to baptismal life, and
they demand sound acceptance of your identity as priests, as consecrated
persons and as lay faithful", he said.
"Dear priests", the Holy Father began, "the responsibility for promoting
peace, justice and reconciliation falls in a special way to you. Owing to
your reception of Holy Orders and your celebration of the Sacraments, you
are called in effect to be men of communion. ... I thus encourage you to let
Christ shine through your life, by being in full communion with your bishop,
by a genuine goodwill towards your brother priests, by a profound solicitude
for each of the baptised and by great attention to each person. In letting
yourself be modelled on Christ, you will never substitute the beauty of your
priestly being with ephemeral and at times unhealthy realities which the
contemporary mentality tends to impose on every culture".
Turning to address religious, the Pope noted that "the consecrated life is
a radical following of Jesus. May your unconditional choice for Christ lead
you to an unlimited love for your neighbour. ... May poverty, obedience and
chastity increase your thirst for God and your hunger for His Word, Who, by
increasing, transforms hunger and thirst into service of those who are
deprived of justice, peace and reconciliation".
Benedict XVI told seminarians that, "without the logic of holiness, the
ministry is merely a social function. ... Faced with the challenges of human
existence, the priest of today and tomorrow - if he wants to be a credible
witness to the service of peace, justice and reconciliation - must be a
humble and balanced man, one who is wise and magnanimous".
The lay faithful are also "called to be the salt of the earth and the
light of the world" in daily life, and to contribute to peace, justice and
reconciliation. "This mission requires first of all a faith in your family
built according to the design of God and in fidelity to His plan for
Christian marriage. ... Thanks to the power of prayer, 'personal and family
life is transformed, gradually improved and enriched with dialogue, faith is
transmitted to the children, the pleasure of being together grows and the
home is further united and consolidated'. ... By having love and forgiveness
reign in your families, you will contribute to the building of a Church
which is beautiful and strong, and to the advent of greater justice and
peace in the whole of society".
Catechists, "those valiant missionaries at the heart of the most humble
realities", must, "with an unshakable hope and determination", make their
"outstanding and absolutely necessary contribution to the spread of the
faith through fidelity to the teaching of the Church".
Concluding his address the Pope highlighted how "the love for the God Who
reveals Himself and for His Word, the love for the Sacraments and for the
Church, are an efficacious antidote against a syncretism which deceives.
This love favours the correct integration of the authentic values of
cultures into the Christian faith. It liberates from occultism and
vanquishes evil spirits, for it is moved by the power of the Holy Trinity
itself. Lived deeply, this love is also a ferment of communion which breaks
down every barrier, promoting the building of a Church in which there is no
segregation among the baptised, for all are made one in Christ Jesus".
PV-BENIN/ VIS
20111119 (710)
SIGNING OF APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION "AFRICAE MUNUS"
VATICAN CITY, 19 NOV 2011 (VIS) - At midday today the Holy Father travelled
by popemobile to the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Ouidah.
Inaugurated in 1909, it was the first cathedral in West Africa and the
starting point for the evangelisation of the region.
On arrival the Pope was greeted by the rector of the basilica, who
accompanied him in a moment of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. Among
those present were the members of the Special Council for Africa of the
Synod of Bishops, and Archbishop Nicola Eterovic, secretary general of the
Synod, all of whom Benedict XVI thanked for their help in collating the
results of the Second Special Assembly for Africa in preparation for the
publication of the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation "Africae munus".
"Today, the celebration of the Synod concludes with the signing of the
Exhortation 'Africae Munus'", he said. "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".
"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 emphasised the urgent need to evangelise 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 evangelisation and human promotion which she has carried out in
African society as a whole".
"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".
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