The question above and many similar questions pop up in the minds of certain critical African thinkers. The Late Pope Francis’ Six Uplifting Words about Africa constitute an affirmative response to these questions. From well-grounded reflective research, the media crew of RECOWACERAO NEWS AGENCY, RECONA, has recently gathered that the late Pope Francis was known to speak highly of Africa, always settling for the most colorful words to describe the continent, which he believed had immense potential.
Pope Francis passed on Easter Monday, April 21 at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta. Aged 88, he had suffered a stroke that was followed by a coma and an irreversible cardiovascular collapse. The late Pontiff, who had been struggling with double pneumonia and a respiratory infection was at the helm of the Catholic Church for a little more than 12 years.
In his numerous speeches about Africa, the late Pope Francis acknowledged the continent’s diverse cultures, the people’s “profound religiosity », as well as the “life” in African celebrations.
He never hesitated to remind the people of God elsewhere that Africa had a lot to teach about the importance of family, as well as the care for all members of the family, especially children and the elderly. The following are the different attributes of Africa, according to Pope Francis.
THE CONTINENT OF PROFOUND RELIGIOSITY
On 23 June 2018, a delegation of the Organization of African Instituted Churches (OAIC) visited the Vatican, hoping to establish closer relations with the Catholic Church. In his address to the delegation, Pope Francis spoke highly of Africa, marveling at the continent’s profound “sense of the existence of a Creator God”.
“The African peoples possess a profound religiosity, a sense of the existence of a Creator God and a spiritual world, the importance of the family, love for life, children as God’s gift, respect for elders, duties towards others, near and far,” Pope Francis said.
He posed, “Do these religious values and these principles of life does not belong to all of us as Christians?”
“Based on them, then, let us express our solidarity in interpersonal and social relationships,” Pope Francis appealed.
AFRICA IS FULL OF LIFE
After concluding his pastoral trip to Mozambique, Madagascar, and Mauritius in September 2019, Pope Francis summed up his experience in the three African countries saying, “Africa is full of life.”
The continent, he said, “is the treasure of the poor, the child. »
About Mozambique, in particular, the late Pope Francis reflected that there was much joy amid the rain during Holy Mass he presided over in the Southern African country’s capital city, Maputo.
“My visit to Mozambique culminated in Mass, celebrated in the stadium in the rain, but we were all happy. The songs, the religious dances … so much happiness. The rain didn’t matter,” the late Pope Francis said recalling the 6 September 2019 Eucharistic celebration at Mozambique’s Zimpeto stadium.
While in Madagascar, the late Pope Francis described the Indian Ocean Island nation located off the Southeastern coast of Africa as a country of great potential. He said, “I hope that, inspired by its traditional spirit of solidarity, the Malagasy people can overcome adversity and build a future of development by combining respect for the environment and social justice.”
In his last leg of the three-nation pastoral trip, the late Pope Francis described Mauritius as a country of natural friendship.
“There is strong inter-religious dialogue, and also friendship between the heads of different religious denominations. Something that would seem strange to us, but they thus experience the friendship that is natural,” he said.
VIRGINITY IN AFRICA
In his message on 9 September 2023, when he met some 110 Catholic Bishops mostly from Africa and Asia, the late Pope Francis described the African continent as “virgin”, and warned against those he said were out to exploit it.
“There is still the widespread idea that Africa must be exploited. But you, African people, have great human resources,” the late Pope Francis said, and added, “There is originality in you, recognize and value it. Give no room to the inferiority complex. There is still virginity in Africa. You have a virgin thought.”
FAITH AND RESILIENCE
In his message to members of the Pan-African Catholic Theology and Pastoral Network (PACTPAN) in July 2022, the late Pope Francis recalled his visits to Africa, and said he had consistently been impressed by “the faith and resilience” of the people of God on the continent.
Recalling his inaugural trip to Africa, during which he visited Kenya, Uganda, and the Central African Republic (CAR) in 2015, the late Pope Francis said, “As I commented during my trip to the Central African Republic in 2015, Africa always surprises us.”
RICHLY DIVERSE
In his maiden trip to Africa as Pontiff, the late Pope Francis first landed in Kenya on 25 November 2015; he recognized with appreciation the « young and vibrant nation » and encouraged Kenyans to continue working for peace in their country
The late Pope Francis praised the “richly diverse” nation of Kenya, saying that it plays an important role in the region as other countries work to create « a multiethnic society which is truly harmonious, just and inclusive.”
Describing the country’s natural beauty and resources as laudable, the late Pope Francis observed the “strong appreciation” and “culture of conservation” that he said Kenyans have.
THE SMILE AND HOPE OF THE WORLD
While condemning the exploitation of Africa ahead of his last pastoral trip to Africa in 2023, when he visited the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan, the late Pope Francis described the African continent as “the smile and hope of the world». His prayer, he said, was for Africa to be “spoken of more frequently”, and to be respected.
“Hands off Africa! Stop choking Africa,” Pope Francis said, and warned that Africa “is not a mine to be stripped or a terrain to be plundered.”
“May Africa be the protagonist of its own destiny!” he said, and added, “May Africa, the smile and hope of the world, count for more.”
“May it be spoken of more frequently and have greater weight and prestige among the nations!” the late Pope Francis said about the world’s second largest and second most populous continent after Asia in both cases.
The late Pope Francis was laid to rest on Saturday, April 26 in his “beloved” Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major as he explained in his testament. It was a global farewell to a humble shepherd.
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