“The Pope's visit was for the people of Africa an opportunity to make their voices heard, to express the joy of being God's people and the hope for a better future of dignity for each and every one of them. This is what Leo XIV said at the audience on Wednesday, April 29, the feast of St. Catherine of Siena, to which the Pontiff referred at the end of his catechesis.
The Holy Father thanked them for their visit, and gave “thanks to the Lord for what they have given me: a priceless wealth for my heart and my ministry.
In addition, when referring to Algeria, a country with a large Muslim majority (Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea have a Christian majority), he has referred to St. Augustine and to the consolidation of bridges for the world and for the Church.
St. Augustine: the roots, and “very important bridges”.”
These were his words at the Audience:
“Providence wanted the first stage to be precisely the country where the places of St. Augustine are located, that is, Algeria. Thus, on the one hand, I was able to start from the roots of my spiritual identity. On the other hand, I was able to cross and consolidate very important bridges for the world and the Church of today. The bridge with the very fruitful era of the Fathers of the Church; the bridge with the Islamic world; the bridge with the African continent”.
Regarding the holy Bishop of Hippo, he pointed out that the trip “was a propitious occasion to enter into the school of St. Augustine. With his life experience, his writings and his spirituality, he is a teacher in the search for God and truth. His testimony is of great importance today for Christians and for every person”.
«In Algeria I received a welcome that was not only respectful but also cordial. We were able to see firsthand and show the world that it is possible to live together as brothers and sisters, even of different religions, when we recognize that we are children of the same merciful Father,” said the Pope.
Cameroon, Angola, Equatorial Guinea
As for “the next three countries I visited,” the population was “mostly Christian. Therefore, I was immersed in an atmosphere of celebration of the faith, of warm welcome, favored also by the typical character of the African people”.
The Vicar of Christ revealed that, “like my predecessors, I have also experienced a little of what happened to Jesus with the crowds of Galilee. He saw them thirsty and hungry for justice, and announced to them: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are the meek, blessed are the peacemakers...”".
In synthesis of the Pope himself, “in Cameroon I renewed the call to reconciliation, justice and integral development, in the face of challenges such as inequality and violence. In Angola, I saw a living Church, purified by history, committed to peace and human promotion. Finally, in Equatorial Guinea, I witnessed a faith full of hope, especially among the young and the most needy”.
Colombia: rejection of any form of violence
In his words to the Spanish-speaking pilgrims, the Holy Father revealed that “with pain and concern, I have learned of the tragic situation of violence that afflicts the southwestern region of Colombia, which has caused serious loss of human life”.
I express my closeness in prayer to the victims and their families, he added, and “I urge everyone to reject any form of violence and to opt resolutely for the path of peace”.
“Fall in love with Christ, as Catherine was.”
In concluding, after a special greeting “to the families of the Focolare Movement, to the collaborators of ‘Regnum Christi’, and to some parishes and pilgrim institutions, the Pope recalled that “the liturgy today celebrates St. Catherine of Siena, Dominican virgin and doctor of the Church”.
“Dear young people, fall in love with Christ, as Catherine did, so as to follow him with enthusiasm and fidelity. You, dear sick people, immerse your sufferings in the mystery of love of the Blood of the Redeemer, contemplated with special devotion by the saint of Siena”.
“And you, dear newlyweds, by your love for one another be a sign of Christ's love for the Church.
Poles: liberation of Dachau, martyrdom of the clergy. French: ‘happy month of Mary’.’
To the Polish-speaking pilgrims, the Pope reminded them of the anniversary of the liberation of the German Nazi camp of Dachau”, the date on which “you celebrate the Day of Martyrdom of the Polish Clergy during the Second World War, and invoke the protection of bishops, priests and seminarians, martyrs of the totalitarianisms of the twentieth century”.
“May they intercede especially for young people, so that they may respond with courage to God's call,” he encouraged them.
Finally, addressing the French-speaking people, he referred to the Virgin Mary: “I bless you and wish you a happy month of Mary”.
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