After his unplanned meeting with the new Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti, Benedict XVI begins the first day of his visit to Benin. And he rejects “exacerbated and useless nationalism and tribalism.”
“Africa offers hope to the world,” the Pope stated at the end of an all African day, which began with Benedict XVI’s important “unscheduled” meeting with the new Italian PM, Mario Monti. Indeed, before his flight departed from Rome’s Fiumicino airport, the Pope had his first meeting with Mr. Monti.
The PM met the Pope at 8:45 Friday morning, by the helicopter that would take the Pope from the Vatican, to Rome’s Leonardo Da Vinci – Fiumicino airport. They had never met before, but the atmosphere between them was very cordial.
The Pope congratulated Mr. Monti for the government’s action and asked him some questions. One about the situation of Italian domestic politics and another was about the EU’s economic crisis. Benedict XVI thanked the PM for greeting him at Fiumicino airport on this busy day, when the final vote of confidence would be held in the Italian Chamber of Deputies.
He also expressed his appreciation and encouragement for the good of Italy.
The PM met the Pope at 8:45 Friday morning, by the helicopter that would take the Pope from the Vatican, to Rome’s Leonardo Da Vinci – Fiumicino airport. They had never met before, but the atmosphere between them was very cordial.
The Pope congratulated Mr. Monti for the government’s action and asked him some questions. One about the situation of Italian domestic politics and another was about the EU’s economic crisis. Benedict XVI thanked the PM for greeting him at Fiumicino airport on this busy day, when the final vote of confidence would be held in the Italian Chamber of Deputies.
He also expressed his appreciation and encouragement for the good of Italy.
Then the airplane took off on its way to planet Africa, where the Pope is to fully immerse himself. Upon his arrival in the world’s fourth poorest country, the Pope placed a bet on Africa becoming the protagonist in this third globalised millennium.
“There were no comments of commiseration. Instead, the Pope talked about investing in the possibility of Africa becoming humanity’s spiritual lung, dragging the rest of the world behind it,” Vatican spokesman, Federico Lombardi said in a statement.
Surrounded by all the Curia’s bishops and cardinals, clad in their light coloured vestments, traditionally worn during missions to foreign lands (with the exception of the Prefect of Propaganda Fide, Filoni) the Pope paid homage to Bernardin Gantin, his predecessor, as dean of the College of Cardinals.
Benedict XVI prayed over the Gantin’s tomb and spoke to journalists about his first meeting with the influential African cardinal, in Munich, on the day of his Episcopal ordination. One of his fellow countrymen had been taught by Ratzinger.
Today, this student is travelling with him and holds the position of Deputy Vatican Minister of Culture in the Curia.
“There were no comments of commiseration. Instead, the Pope talked about investing in the possibility of Africa becoming humanity’s spiritual lung, dragging the rest of the world behind it,” Vatican spokesman, Federico Lombardi said in a statement.
Surrounded by all the Curia’s bishops and cardinals, clad in their light coloured vestments, traditionally worn during missions to foreign lands (with the exception of the Prefect of Propaganda Fide, Filoni) the Pope paid homage to Bernardin Gantin, his predecessor, as dean of the College of Cardinals.
Benedict XVI prayed over the Gantin’s tomb and spoke to journalists about his first meeting with the influential African cardinal, in Munich, on the day of his Episcopal ordination. One of his fellow countrymen had been taught by Ratzinger.
Today, this student is travelling with him and holds the position of Deputy Vatican Minister of Culture in the Curia.
Of all African cardinals, Cardinal Gantin was the one who looked most likely to become the first black Pope in history. Benedict XVI described his thirty year long friendship with the cardinal, with affection and admiration.
Together, they faced heated questions, such as the Lefebvrian schism, and now, Joseph Ratzinger explains how he always appreciated Cardinal Gantin’s ability to get to the crux of problems, without getting lost in terminological disputes. Especially when he had the delicate task of leading the Congregation for Bishops.
Together, they faced heated questions, such as the Lefebvrian schism, and now, Joseph Ratzinger explains how he always appreciated Cardinal Gantin’s ability to get to the crux of problems, without getting lost in terminological disputes. Especially when he had the delicate task of leading the Congregation for Bishops.
Surrounded by a huge crowd in Cotonou, the Pope said “no” to the “unconditional submission to market and financial laws” and to “exacerbated and useless nationalism and tribalism that can be fatal.”
He also spoke out against the “extreme politicisation of interreligious tension, with no regard for common good” and “finally the erosion of human, cultural, ethical and religious values.”
The Pope will make a much awaited speech on Saturday, in Cotonou’s presidential palace, before institutional and political authorities, the diplomatic corps, culture figures and representatives of the main religions.
He also spoke out against the “extreme politicisation of interreligious tension, with no regard for common good” and “finally the erosion of human, cultural, ethical and religious values.”
The Pope will make a much awaited speech on Saturday, in Cotonou’s presidential palace, before institutional and political authorities, the diplomatic corps, culture figures and representatives of the main religions.
This afternoon, for the first time during one of his trips, the Pope will meet children and talk to them directly. The only previous meeting of this kind was Benedict XVI’s encounter with children from Rome and the Lazio region, on the occasion of their first communion, in St. Peter’s Square, on 15 October 2005.
On this, Benedict XVI’s second mission to Africa, special attention will need to be given to more “political” issues relating to religious freedom in the black continent.
The fact that (in this extremely poor corner of the Third World, where numerous children die every year) the Pope will be meeting children alone (which he has only done once before), is another significant fact.
The fact that (in this extremely poor corner of the Third World, where numerous children die every year) the Pope will be meeting children alone (which he has only done once before), is another significant fact.
The vast majority of mass media however, are especially keeping an ear out for any comments the Pope may make on sex and condoms, as he did on his previous trip to Africa.
In the speech he gave at Cotonou airport, where he was welcomed by President Thomas Boni Yayi (who made a vibrant discourse albeit in broken French)and by the Archbishop of Cotonou, Antoine Ganyé, Benedict XVI told people that “modernity must not cause fear.”
He also added, however, that this “cannot be built by forgetting the past,” avoiding “the obstacles that exist on the African continent.”
In the speech he gave at Cotonou airport, where he was welcomed by President Thomas Boni Yayi (who made a vibrant discourse albeit in broken French)and by the Archbishop of Cotonou, Antoine Ganyé, Benedict XVI told people that “modernity must not cause fear.”
He also added, however, that this “cannot be built by forgetting the past,” avoiding “the obstacles that exist on the African continent.”
In the first speech he made during this trip, the Pope reminded his audience of his “fondness” for Africa and Benin, and remembered African hero, Cardinal Bernardin Gantin, who passed away in 2008, with Cotonou airport being named after him. Tomorrow, the Pope will sign the post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation “Africæ munus".
On Sunday 20 November he will deliver this officially to the continent’s bishops. Whilst in Benin, Benedict XVI will be speaking predominantly in French, but on occasion, also in English and Portuguese.
On Sunday 20 November he will deliver this officially to the continent’s bishops. Whilst in Benin, Benedict XVI will be speaking predominantly in French, but on occasion, also in English and Portuguese.