Working in areas of conflict and misery, the church has an important duty to be an instrument of peace and reconciliation, Pope Benedict XVI said.But countries also must recognize the right of their citizens to share in their nation's wealth if there is to be truly lasting peace, he added.
The pope used his April 1 general audience in St. Peter's Square to review his March 17-23 visit to Cameroon and Angola.
Even though his first papal trip to the African continent was limited to two nations, the pope said he "ideally wanted to embrace all of the people of Africa and bless them in the name of the Lord."
Today, the church is accompanying a new Africa, which is working "to strengthen its political independence and national identity in a globalized world," he said.
"Being in the midst of numerous and dramatic conflicts that unfortunately still torment different regions of the continent, the church knows that it must be a sign and instrument of unity and reconciliation by putting into practice the teachings of the Gospel so that all of Africa may together build a future of justice, solidarity and peace," he said.
Angola is one country that has just emerged from a long civil war and is in the process of rebuilding and healing divisions, said the pope.
"But how can this reconciliation and reconstruction be made authentic if they come at the expense of the poorest who have the same right all people do to share in the resources of their nation," he asked.
For this reason his apostolic voyage to Africa was also meant to be a sign of encouragement for those promoting the common good in society, he said.
"All is lost with war; everything can be revived with peace. But tremendous moral stamina is needed to rebuild a nation and here, once again, the role of the church ends up being important as it is called to educate by working thoroughly in renewing and forming consciences," he said.
Only Christ can truly transform people and society, Pope Benedict said; "therefore, returning to God, converting oneself to Christ means moving forward toward the fullness of life."
At the end of his general audience talk, the pope met with two Italian nuns who had been held captive for more than 100 days in Kenya.
Sister Caterina Giraudo, 67, and Sister Maria Teresa Oliviero, 61, were seized by armed men Nov. 10 in northeastern Kenya near the border with Somalia and were freed unharmed Feb. 18.
Pope Benedict had appealed twice for their release.
Cardinal Severino Poletto of Turin, who accompanied the sisters when they greeted the pope, thanked the pope for his appeals.
The nuns are from Cuneo, near Turin, and are members of the Contemplative Missionary Movement of Father Charles de Foucauld. They have both served in Kenya since the early 1970s.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce
(Source: CNS)