With President Paul Biya’s words of welcome echoing in his ears, Pope Benedict XVI delivered his first papal speech on African soil today. Saying that he comes “as a pastor,” the Pope used his first speech to speak to all of Africa about how the Gospel offers hope to “a situation of great hardship and injustice.”A diverse audience including government representatives, lay Catholics and leaders of other religions listened as Pope Benedict XVI said in French,“I come among you as a pastor, I come to confirm my brothers and sisters in the faith. This was the role that Christ entrusted to Peter at the Last Supper, and it is the role of Peter’s successors.”
Recalling that Africa’s Christian history began with the Africans who heard Peter’s preaching at Pentecost and extends all the way to today, he remarked how fitting it is that "Peter’s successor should come to Africa, to celebrate with you the life-giving faith in Christ that sustains and nourishes so many of the sons and daughters of this great continent!”
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