VATICAN CITY, OCT. 26, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI today announced his plans to travel to Africa in March, leading up to the synod regarding that continent set to take place some months later.
The II Special Assembly for Africa of the synod of bishops is set for October 2009.
The Holy Father announced his plans at the closing Mass of the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the synod, which concluded today after nearly a month of reflection on the Word of God in the life and mission of the Church. He also announced the Africa trip before praying the midday Angelus with those gathered in St. Peter’s Square.
The Pontiff explained that the journey will include stops in two African countries: «In the first place, Cameroon, where I will give the bishops of the continent the ‘instrumentum laboris’ of the synod, and then Angola, on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the evangelization of that nation.»
Both in the homily and in the Angelus address, Benedict XVI entrusted to Our Lady’s intercession the success of the Africa synod.
