Pope Says God's Love Triumphs Over War and Sin, Celebrates
Mass with One Million
 LUANDA,
Angola, MARCH 22, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI is calling
Angolans and all Africans to acknowledge the presence of God within
them, and to bring his love and forgiveness to all people around
them.
The Pope said this today in a homily at a Mass in Cimangola, on the
outskirts of Luanda. The Eucharistic Celebration was presided by the
Pontiff with bishops of the IMBISA (Interregional Meeting of Bishops
of Southern Africa), and was attended by one million people.
He noted the suffering experienced by the Angolan people as a result
of war, and the consequent destruction of "families, whole
communities, the fruit of men's labor, the hopes which guide and
sustain their lives and work!"
He added that "this experience is all too familiar to Africa as a
whole: the destructive power of civil strife, the descent into a
maelstrom of hatred and revenge, the squandering of the efforts of
generations of good people."
"When God's word -- a word meant to build up individuals,
communities and the whole human family -- is neglected," the Holy
Father explained, "and when God's law is ridiculed, despised,
laughed at, the result can only be destruction and injustice: the
abasement of our common humanity and the betrayal of our vocation to
be sons and daughters of a merciful Father, brothers and sisters of
his beloved Son."
He affirmed, "God is calling us to acknowledge the power of his
presence within us," to take as our own "the gift of his love and
forgiveness, and to become messengers of that merciful love within
our families and communities, at school and in the workplace, in
every sector of social and political life."
Conversion
Benedict XVI affirmed: "The Gospel teaches us that reconciliation,
true reconciliation, can only be the fruit of conversion, a change
of heart, a new way of thinking.
"It teaches us that only the power of God's love can change our
hearts and make us triumph over the power of sin and division."
He added, "Only God can make all things new!"
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Spokesman Says Benedict XVI Gives Africa Hope
LUANDA, Angola, MARCH 22, 2009 (Zenit.org).- The Pope gives Africa
hope, the Vatican spokesman explained as he made an initial
assessment of Benedict XVI's visit to Cameroon and Angola in an
interview with Vatican Radio.
Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press
office, commented on the Mass celebrated by the Pope today in
Cimangola, on the outskirts of Luanda, in which more than one
million people participated.
He reported: "It was a powerful homily. This homily was addressed to
the Angolan people and also to all of southern Africa, because all
of the bishops of IMBISA [the Inter-Regional Meeting of Bishops of
Southern Africa] were present."
The spokesman noted that the Pope "returned with strong emphasis to
the gloom, the problems, especially war, but the [he] also opened a
great deal to hope."
The Holy Father, the priest continued, "spoke of the values of
African culture, of the values that Christianity can bring to Africa
to build a Christian life, a Church with specific characteristics:
this value of love of life, the sensibility of the family."
"These are all aspects on which the Church too can work in depth to
be truly African," he said.
Mourning
The Pontiff also appeared deeply moved by the deaths yesterday of
two young girls, who were trampled in the rush to enter Coqueiros
Stadium in Luanda, Father Lombardi observed.
He said: "It is true. It is a terribly sad thing that casts a shadow
of sadness over yesterday's great celebration. The event, as far as
we understand, happened before the meeting, in the rush through the
entrances to the stadium."
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