Pope leaves Africa

By John Thavis

Pope Benedict XVI bid farewell to Angola and to Africa, asking the continent’s people to care for one another and telling the international community it has an obligation to share the world’s resources in an equitable way.

“Our hearts cannot find peace while there are still brothers and sisters who suffer for lack of food, work, shelter or other fundamental goods,” the pope said March 23 during a brief farewell ceremony at Luanda’s international airport.

The pope’s four days in Angola concluded a weeklong trip to Africa, which began in Cameroon. It was his first papal visit to the continent and featured the release of the working document for the Synod of Bishops for Africa, which will be held at the Vatican in October.

Addressing Angolan President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos and the country’s bishops at the airport, Pope Benedict said, “I thank God that I have found the church here to be so alive and full of enthusiasm, despite the difficulties, able to take up its own cross and that of others, bearing witness before everyone to the saving power of the Gospel message.”

The Catholic Church in Africa proclaims that “the time of hope has come” and it demonstrates that fact by working for peace, reconciliation, dialogue, respect for each person and solidarity among all peoples, the pope said.

Pope Benedict said that, while he was sad to be leaving Angola, he was happy to have had an opportunity to get to know “a courageous people determined to begin again” after a 27-year civil war.

Saying he wanted to make one final appeal before leaving the continent, the pope asked Africa’s political leaders to give priority to meeting the needs and hopes of Africa’s poorest people.

“If we are to offer a definite response to these fellow human beings, the first challenge to be overcome is that of building solidarity: solidarity between generations (and) solidarity between nations and between continents, which should lead to an ever more equitable sharing of the earth’s resources among all people,” he said.

As soon as the speeches were over and a military band finished playing the Vatican and Angolan anthems, the crowd took over with loud, lively singing as the pope’s plane taxied down the runway. As soon as the wheels were off the ground, the women at the airport began ululating.