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. Affica 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.