Earlier posts for 10/10/09 on the preceding page.
ROSARY WITH UNIVERSITY STUDENTS OF ROME
FOR AND WITH AFRICA
via satellite link to students
in eight African capitals
Pope urges formation of young intellectuals
with scientific, cultural collaboration
among universities
by Salvatore Izzo
VATICAN CITY, Oct. 10 (Translated from AGI) - "The formation of young intellectuals and scientific and culural collaboration among universities" represent the necessary conditions "that can offer and inspire integral human development in Africa and other continents", Beneidct XVI said in his greeting Saturday evening at a rosary prayer in Aula Paolo VI with university students of Rome and the 240 bishops attending the current second special assembly for Africa of the Bishops' Synod.
During the program, the Pontiff symbolically handed to the youth the encyclical
Caritas in veritate, in which, he said, "I affirm the urgency of elaborating a new humanistic synthesis that restores the ties between anthropology and theology'.
Linked by satellite to the Vatican rites were university students in eight Africna capitals: Cairo (Egypt), Nairobi (Kenya), Khartoum (Sudan), Johannesburg (South Africa0, Onitaha (Nigeria), Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Maputo (Mozambique), and Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso).
"Dear university students of Rome and Africa," the Pope called on the youth, "I ask you to be workers of intellectual charity in the Church and in society, which is necessary in order to face the great challenges of contemporary history.
"In your universities, be sincere and passionate searchers of the truth, building academic communities of high intellectual level, where it is possible to exercise and to enjoy that open and broad rationality which opens the way to encountering God.
"Learn to build bridges of scientific and cultural collaboration among the different universities, especially with those in Africa.
"To you, dear African students, I address a special invitation to live your time at school as a preparation for carrying out a service of cultural inspiration in your countries... for in fact, the new evangelization in Africa counts on your generous commitment".
Benedict XVI said that he is entrusting the second Synodal Assmebly for Africa to the "maternal intercession of the Blessed Virgin."
"Let us place in her hands," he told the more than 7,000 students gathered in the audience hall and their contemporaries in Africa, "the hopes, the expectations, and the plans of the Africna peoples, along with their difficulties and sufferings".
He said, "The fact that we are gathered together - the Successor of Peter and the numerous Pastors of thee Church in African with other qualified experts - is a reason for joy and hope. It expresses communion and nourishes it".
The Pope thanked the Italian authorities, Telespazio and Vatican Radio for having made possible the satellite linkage to the various African cities.
He recalled that "the Fathers of the Church had likened the Christian community to an orchestra and chorus that are well ordered and harmonious".
He said that for the Synodal Assembly on Africa, as on other occasions, the Church "has availed of modern communications technology to cast a net of prayer that links Rome to Africa".
Here is a translation of the Pope's remarks, which he delivered in a few languages, starting and ending in Italian:
THE POPE'S REMARKS
Venerated Synodal Fathers,
Dear brothers and sisters,
Dear university students!
At the end of thie encounter for Marian prayer, I extend to all of you my most heartfelt greeting, with particular acknowledgment for the presence of the Synodal Fathers among us.
I thank the Italian authorities who have supported this initiative, and above all, the General Secretariat of the Bishops' Synod and the University Pastoral Office of the Vicariate of Rome, who promoted and organized this event.
My dear university friends in Rome, my sincere 'Thank You' also goes to you, of course, for having answered my invitation in such numbers.
As you know, the second special assembly for Africa of the Bishops' Synod is under way at the Vatican these dsys. The fact that we are gathred together - the Successor of Peter, numerous Pastors of the Church in Africa, and various distinguished experts - constitutes a reason for joy and hope; it expresses communion and nourishes it.
Already, the Fathers of the Church had likened the Christian community to an orchestra and a choir that are well ordered and harmonious - like those who have animated our prayers today, and to whom our thanks go.
As in preceding occasions, this evening has availed of modern techniques of telecommunication to cast a net - a net of prayer - linking Rome to Africa. Thus, thanks to the collaboration of Telespazio, CTV and Vatican Radio, many university students in different African cities gathered together with their Psators have been able to participate in our Rosary. I extend to them an affectionate greeting.
He spoke next in French:
Brothers and sisters who speak French, particularly you who have joined us from Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and EGypt, I extend my most heartfelt greeting.
I ask you to remain united by prayer to all the Bishops of Africa who are gathered in Rome for the Synod, so that the Church may bring an effective contribution to reconciliation, justice and peace on this beloved continent, and that it may be an authentic sign of hope for all the peoples of Africa - 'Salt of the earth... and light of the world'.
May the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Africa, lead you in peace and towards her Son Jesus the Savior. God bless you!
Next he spoke in English:
Dear Friends, I greet with affection the many young students, especially those from Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Sudan, who have joined us in our prayer to Mary, the Mother of Jesus.
We have entrusted to her maternal protection the success of the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops. May her intercession sustain Christians everywhere, especially the peoples of Africa, and may her example teach us to turn to the Lord and persevere in prayer in our sorrows and our joys.
I extend a special greeting to the young men and women of Africa who are present in my heart and in my prayers. May you always be uncompromising witnesses and active promoters of justice, reconciliation and peace.
In Portuguese:
I greet the university students gathered in Maputo [Mozambique] with the name of Mary on their lips, praying for Africa and with Africa, so that the Christian faithful, filled with the Holy Spirit, may fulfill the mission received from Jesus: You will the salt of a just earth and the llight to guide the world to reconciliation and peace.
Thank you, my friends, for your prayers and for your Christian testimony! May the Virgin Mother watch over you, to whom I entrust all the young people of Mozambique and the other Portuguese-speaking African countries.
He resumed in Italian:
In preparation for today's meeting, a conference took place in Rome, organized by the Direction-General for development cooperation of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affaris and by the Vicariate of Rome, on the theme "For a new culture in the development of Africa: the role of university cooperation".
In expressing my appreciation and encouragement for this project, I wish to underscore the importance of the formation of young intellectuals, along with scientific-cultural collaboration among universities, in order to offer and inspire integral human development in Africa and in other continents.
In this context, I have entrusted symboilcally to you, dear young people, the encyclical Caritas in veritate, in which I point to the urgency of elaborating a new humanistic synthesis (cfr No, 21) which will reconnect the ties between anthropology and theology.
Meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary, we have once more encountered the true face of God, who in Jesus Christ, disclosed his presence in the life of every people.
The God of Jesus Christ walks alongside man - thanks to him, it is possible to build the civilization of love (cfr ivi, 39).
Dear university students of Rome and Africa, I ask you to be, in the Church and in society, workers of intellectual charity, which is necessary in order to face the great challenges of contemporary history. Be in the universities sincere and passionate searchers for the truth, constructing academic communities of high intellectual level, where it is possible to exercise and enjoy that open and broad rationality which opens the way for the encounter with God.
Know how to build bridges of scientific and cultural collaboration among the different universities, especially with those in Africa.
To you, dear African students, I address a special invitation to live your time in school as a preparation to carry out a service of cultural inspiration in your countries. The new evangelization in Africa counts on your generous commitment.
Dear brothers and sisters, with the recital of the Rosary, we have entrusted the second synodal assembly for Africa to the maternal intercession of the Virgin Mary. Let us place in her hands the hopes, expectations and plans of the African peoples, as well as their difficulties and sufferings.
To those who are linked with us from different parts of Africa, and to all of you who are present here, I impart from my heart the Apostolic Blessing.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 17/10/2009 00:48]