Subject: VISnews 111123
Organization: VIS
From: Vatican Information Service - Eng - txt
VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
TWENTY FIRST YEAR - N. 205
ENGLISH
WEDNESDAY, 23 NOVEMBER 2011
SUMMARY:
- Africa Is the Continent Of Hope, Says Benedict XVI
- Pope Greets Pilgrims at the End of His General Audience
- Holy Father to Visit Rome's Rebibbia Prison
- Other Pontifical Acts
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AFRICA IS THE CONTINENT OF HOPE, SAYS BENEDICT XVI
VATICAN CITY, 23 NOV 2011 (VIS) - The Holy Father dedicated his general
audience, held this morning in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall, to reflections on
his recently concluded apostolic trip to Benin. The trip had a threefold
purpose: marking the 150th anniversary of evangelisation in that region,
consigning the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation "Africae munus", and
paying homage to the late Beninese Cardinal Bernardin Gantin.
The Pope reminisced about the various stages of his journey, beginning
with his visit to the basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Ouidah where
he "placed the fruits of the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod
of Bishops at the feet of the Blessed Virgin. ... Christian communities in
Africa", he said, "are now called to renew themselves in the faith, in order
to serve reconciliation, justice and peace. They are invited to inner
reconciliation in order to become joyful instruments of divine mercy, each
contributing to the common good with its own spiritual and material wealth.
"Such a spirit of reconciliation is of course also indispensable in civil
life", the Pope added, "and has to remain open to the hope which must also
animate the socio-political and economic life of the continent". The Pontiff
then turned to focus on his meeting with civil, political and religious
authorities in Benin, to whom he had likewise "stressed the hope that must
drive the development of the continent", at the same time "highlighting the
ardent desire for freedom and justice which has moved the hearts of so many
African peoples, especially in recent months".
Speaking of the celebration of the Eucharist at the "Stade de l'amitie" in
Cotonou, Benedict XVI noted that the presence of both young and old was "a
marvellous testament to the fact that the faith unites the generations and
responds to the challenges of every stage of life". During that celebration,
the Pope gave the presidents of African episcopal conferences the
Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation "Africae munus", in which, he said, "the
faithful will find the fundamental guidelines to lead and stimulate the
journey of the Church in Africa, which is increasingly called to be 'salt of
the earth' and 'light of the world'".
The Holy Father also dwelt on his meeting with children and sick people at
the church of St. Rita and at the Home of Peace and Happiness, run by
sisters of Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity. There he had "truly
tasted the joy of life, the delight and enthusiasm of the new generations
who represent the future of Africa", and had seen "how love and solidarity
can cause the power and affection of the risen Christ to be present, even in
weakness".
The commitment of clergy, religious and laity is "a sign of sure hope for
the future of the Church in Benin", said the Holy Father who also recalled
how he had encouraged priests to follow "the path of sanctity, in the
awareness that the ministry is not simply a social function, but a means for
bringing God to man and man to God".
The Holy Father's meeting with the Beninese episcopate had focused on "the
origins of the announcement of the Gospel in their country, by the work of
missionaries", and on his exhortation to them "constantly to rediscover Holy
Scripture as a source of spiritual renewal and an opportunity to intensify
the faith".
"In Africa", the Holy Father explained, "I saw a freshness in the 'yes' to
life, a freshness of religious meaning and hope, a holistic vision of
reality where God is not confined to that positivist perspective which, in
the final analysis, extinguishes all hope. This tells us that the continent
contains reserves of life and vitality for the future, reserves upon which
we can rely, upon which the Church can rely.
"My journey", he added in conclusion, "was also by way of being an appeal
to Africa to concentrate every effort on announcing the Gospel to those who
do not yet know it, to renew the commitment to evangelisation, to which each
member of the baptised is called by promoting reconciliation, justice and
peace".
AG/ VIS
20111123 (700)
POPE GREETS PILGRIMS AT THE END OF HIS GENERAL AUDIENCE
VATICAN CITY, 23 NOV 2011 (VIS) - At the end of today's general audience the
Holy Father welcomed pilgrims in ten different languages, among them "a
delegation from the Catholic-Orthodox Forum, which includes many prelates to
whom I address my cordial greetings. To the Catholic members in particular,
I express my sincere best wishes for the fortieth anniversary of the Council
of European Episcopal Conferences (CCEE)".
The Pope also spoke in Croatian to priests and faithful from the
Greek-Catholic diocese of Krizevci. "Dear friends", he said, "you have begun
celebrating a Jubilee in your eparchy to mark the 400th anniversary of union
with the Church of Rome and of the establishment of the eparchy of Marca.
Today you are thanking God for all the gifts you have received with this
pilgrimage to the tombs of the Apostles Peter and Paul. May your
centuries-long union with the Bishop of Rome help you to become builders of
communion between the Christian East and West".
Finally Benedict XVI turned to address Hungarian pilgrims "and especially
a group of Gypsies from the province of Tolna. May the splendour of the
faith guide you along the roads of life", he said.
AG/ VIS
20111123 (210)
HOLY FATHER TO VISIT ROME'S REBIBBIA PRISON
VATICAN CITY, 23 NOV 2011 (VIS) - The Prefecture of the Pontifical Household
today released the following communique.
"On Sunday 18 December, the fourth Sunday of Advent, the Holy Father
Benedict XVI will make a pastoral visit to Rebibbia Prison in Rome.
"At 10 a.m. in the prison's central church, dedicated to Our Father, the
Pope will meet with the detainees and answer their questions.
"At 11.30 a.m., before returning to the Vatican for the Angelus prayer,
the Holy Father will bless a tree planted in memory of his visit".
PD/ VIS
20111123 (100)
OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
VATICAN CITY, 23 NOV 2011 (VIS) - The Holy Father:
- Appointed Fr. Pio Hipunyati of the clergy of Ondjiva, Angola, professor
of Latin at the minor and major seminary of the Catholic mission in
Omupanda, as bishop of Ondjiva (area 83,900, population 1,003,280, Catholics
573,459, priests 34, religious 64). The bishop-elect was born in Ounonge,
Angola in 1964 and ordained a priest in 1998. He has worked as superior of
the Catholic mission in Omupanda and as bursar of the diocese of Ondjiva. He
succeeds Bishop Fernando Guimaraes Kevanu, whose resignation from the
pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having
reached the age limit.
- Appointed Bishop Joaquim Justino Carreira, auxiliary of Sao Paulo,
Brazil, as bishop of Guarulhos (area 341, population 1,315,000, Catholics
851,000, priests 49, permanent deacons 1, religious 83), Brazil. He succeeds
Bishop Luiz Gonzaga Bergonzini, whose resignation from the pastoral care of
the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age
limit.
- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Derry,
Ireland, presented by Bishop Seamus Hegarty, in accordance with canon 401
para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.
NER:RE/ VIS 20111123
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