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Pope to call for African peace and reconciliation Pope calls for African peace and reconciliation
(about 9 hours later)
Pope Benedict is to present plans by the Roman Catholic church to encourage reconciliation in Africa, on the second day of his visit to the state of Benin. Pope Benedict has presented plans by the Roman Catholic church to encourage reconciliation in Africa, on the second day of his visit to the state of Benin.
The Pope will travel to the city of Ouidah, the symbolic heartland of Voodoo, where he is expected to call for respect for traditional beliefs but issue a warning against witchcraft. The Pope travelled to the city of Ouidah, the heartland of the Voodoo religion, where called for respect for traditional beliefs but issued a warning against witchcraft.
Ouidah is home to one of the largest Catholic cathedrals in West Africa.Ouidah is home to one of the largest Catholic cathedrals in West Africa.
Large crowds are expected to greet the Pontiff in the city. Earlier he denounced corruption when he spoke to political and church leaders.
His first public engagement was at the presidential palace in the capital, Cotonou. Large crowds have greeted the Pope since he arrived in Benin on Friday.
In front of an audience of politicians, diplomats and church leaders, he issued an appeal to Africa's leaders. His first public engagement was at the presidential palace in the economic capital, Cotonou.
"Do not deprive your peoples of hope. Do not cut them off from their future," he said. In front of an audience of politicians, diplomats and church figures, he issued an appeal to Africa's leaders.
The Church's reconciliation plans are contained in a formal apostolic exhortation entitled The Pledge for Africa (Africae Munus in Latin), which the Pope will sign in Ouidah.
The document was drawn up two years ago at a meeting in Rome by Catholic bishops from all over Africa.
Voodoo is recognised as an official religion in Benin, followed by some 40% of the population.Voodoo is recognised as an official religion in Benin, followed by some 40% of the population.
People across West Africa, especially Togo, Ghana and Nigeria hold similar beliefs.People across West Africa, especially Togo, Ghana and Nigeria hold similar beliefs.
Voodoo has none of the negative connotations it has in the West and many of those who are officially Christian or Muslim also incorporate some Voodoo elements into their beliefs, especially in times of crisis.Voodoo has none of the negative connotations it has in the West and many of those who are officially Christian or Muslim also incorporate some Voodoo elements into their beliefs, especially in times of crisis.
But Voodoo is more than a belief system, it is a complete way of life, including culture, philosophy, language, art, dance, music and medicine.But Voodoo is more than a belief system, it is a complete way of life, including culture, philosophy, language, art, dance, music and medicine.
Voodoo priests ask the gods to intervene on behalf of ordinary people but local adherents stress that they have nothing to do with sorcery or black magic.Voodoo priests ask the gods to intervene on behalf of ordinary people but local adherents stress that they have nothing to do with sorcery or black magic.
People here do not stick needles into dolls to cause misfortune to their enemies, as you see in some Western films.People here do not stick needles into dolls to cause misfortune to their enemies, as you see in some Western films.
"Do not deprive your peoples of hope. Do not cut them off from their future," he said.
It is intended to encourage reconciliation, peace and justice. "There are too many scandals and injustices, too much corruption and greed, too many errors and lies, too much violence which leads to misery and to death," the Pope added.
Pope Benedict is expected to call for elements of traditional cultures and religions to be recognised, if they are compatible with church teaching. The Church's reconciliation plans are contained in a 135-page formal apostolic exhortation entitled The Pledge for Africa (Africae Munus in Latin), which the Pope signed in Ouidah.
However, he will warn people to reject magic and witchcraft, which the Church condemns for what it believes is their negative effect on families and society. The document was drawn up two years ago at a meeting in Rome by Catholic bishops from all over Africa.
It is intended to encourage reconciliation, peace and justice - calling for good governance and the abolition of the death penalty and condemning abuse of women and children.
Pope Benedict reflected these themes in his address to the packed basilica in Ouidah, saying reconciliation was needed to overcome "the tensions, the acts of violence, the wars, the injustices and abuses of all sorts, new and old, which have marked this year".
He urged his audience to recognise elements of traditional cultures and religions to be recognised, if they are compatible with church teaching.
But he warned people to reject magic and witchcraft, which the Church condemns for what it believes is their negative effect on families and society.
The cathedral in Ouidah was built on land which was originally a Voodoo "sacred bush" - where offerings are made to the gods.
It now overlooks a temple where the snake-god is worshipped.
Voodoo is widely practised in Benin, where it has none of the negative connotations often associated with it in Western countries.
'Useless nationalism''Useless nationalism'
On the first day of his visit the pontiff spoke of avoiding "exacerbated and useless nationalism or tribalism" which he said could fuel deadly inter-religious tensions.On the first day of his visit the pontiff spoke of avoiding "exacerbated and useless nationalism or tribalism" which he said could fuel deadly inter-religious tensions.
He also urged Africans to avoid the "unconditional surrender to the law of the market and finance".He also urged Africans to avoid the "unconditional surrender to the law of the market and finance".
"Modernity must not cause fear, but it cannot be built by forgetting the past," he said."Modernity must not cause fear, but it cannot be built by forgetting the past," he said.
The Pope is likely to face questions about the Church's attitude to the use of condoms during his trip.The Pope is likely to face questions about the Church's attitude to the use of condoms during his trip.
He caused controversy on a previous visit to Africa, in 2009, by saying that handing out condoms could speed up the spread of HIV.He caused controversy on a previous visit to Africa, in 2009, by saying that handing out condoms could speed up the spread of HIV.
Africa has the highest prevalence of the virus in the world and his comments angered AIDS campaigners. Africa has the highest prevalence of the virus in the world and his comments angered Aids campaigners.
Voodoo The Pledge for Africa concedes that Aids calls for a "medical and pharmaceutical response", but describes it as an "ethical problem".
One of the Voodoo leaders invited to meet the Pope, Dah Aligbonon, said he hoped the Pontiff would urge Roman Catholics to be more tolerant of Africa's traditional religions.
"I invite the Pope to tell his followers to stop acts of provocation against the Voodoo culture," the Reuters news agency quoted him as saying.
The cathedral in Ouidah was built on land which was originally a Voodoo "sacred bush" - where offerings are made to the gods.
It now overlooks a temple where the snake-god is worshipped.
Voodoo is widely practised in Benin, where it has none of the negative connotations often associated with it in Western countries.