Holy Spirit will set agenda for Africa Synod, Pope teaches

Vatican City, Oct 4, 2009 / 10:41 am

As the Pope prepared to pray the Angelus today, he followed up his earlier remarks calling for a new evangelization of Africa and a revolution of holiness in its families. The Holy Spirit, he reminded the faithful, is the one who guides the Church and will inspire the Synod for Africa.

Before the reciting the Angelus, Pope Benedict spoke from the window of his study overlooking St. Peter’s Square. He explained to the crowd of faithful that the Synod is not a "study conference," or "programming assembly." "We hear reports and speeches, we confront ourselves in groups, but we all know that we are not the protagonists. It is the Lord and his Holy Spirit, who guides the Church.”
 
“The most important thing for everyone is listening, listening to one another and everyone, listening to what the Lord wants to tell us."
 
He recalled, “Africa is a land rich in human life, but this life is marked by so many, who unfortunately, sometimes suffer grave injustice and poverty. The Church is committed to overcoming this with the power of the Gospel and the concrete solidarity of many institutions and charitable initiatives.”
 
After the Marian prayer, the Pope said he followed in recent days "the serious incidents of violence that have shaken the people of Guinea.” Speaking to the situation, he said, “I express my condolences to the bereaved families, I invite the parties to dialogue, reconciliation and trust that no efforts will be spared to reach a fair and equitable solution.”
 
Also, he urged university students to join him and the Synod Fathers in a recitation of the Holy Rosary "with Africa and for Africa" on the afternoon of Saturday, October 10.  The prayer, led by the Holy Father in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall, will be followed via satellite by students in African cities.