Pope Benedict XVI: “Africa is the Continent of Hope”
Vatican City, 23 November 2011 (VIS) - Our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI 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.
"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".
+
First, I give thanks to my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is heralded throughout the world. God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in proclaiming the gospel of his Son, that I remember you constantly always asking in my prayers that somehow by God’s will I may at last find my way clear to come to you. For I long to see you, that I may share with you some spiritual gift so that you may be strengthened, that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by one another’s faith, yours and mine.
Romans 1:8 -12
+
As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving Day in the United States of America we call to mind the countless blessings which God has bestowed upon us. When we think of blessings we typically think of goodness or plenty. But what comes to mind is a dear friend, a woman of great faith, who never ceases to amaze me as she thanks God for challenges or physical suffering, so convinced she is that God uses difficulties to draw her closer to Him. The witness of her faith, hope, and love inspire me to strive for the spiritual gifts which more fully develop as we do God's will. In a special way on this Thanksgiving Day I give thanks to God for each one who encourages and strengthens me by your faithful witness. Let us give thanks to God as people of hope!
Deo gratias!
+
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments will be reviewed and may be edited before publication.