VATICAN - Pope prays Rosary “with Africa and for Africa” with Italian and African university students: “The new evangelization in Africa is also counting on your generous efforts.”

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – On the occasion of the II Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops, on the afternoon of Saturday, October 12, a Marian Vigil “with Africa and for Africa” was held in the Paul VI Audience Hall. The moment of prayer was attended by the Synod Fathers as well as university students from Rome, who were later joined via satellite by other university students in eight African capitals: Cairo (Egypt), Nairobi (Kenya), Khartoum (Sudan), Johannesburg (South Africa), Onitsha (Nigeria), Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo), Maputo (Mozambique), Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). The Holy Father Benedict led the praying of the Holy Rosary and, after having briefly addressed those present, presented a copy of his encyclical, Caritas in veritate, to several university students from Rome and Africa.
“Meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary, we have once again seen the true face of God who reveals to us his presence in the life of every people in Jesus Christ. The God of Jesus Christ walks with man: and thanks to Him it is possible to build the civilization of love,” the Pope said. Then, addressing university students from Rome and Africa, he asked them to “be operators of intellectual charity, which is necessary to face up to the great challenges of contemporary history, in the Church and in society.” “Know how to build bridges of scientific and cultural collaboration between your various universities, especially with the African ones. And to you, dear African students, I invite you in particular to live your period of study as a preparation to carry out a service of cultural animation in your countries. The new evangelization in Africa is also counting on your generous efforts.”
The Pope also spoke in various languages, to the African university students linked from various nations on the continent. He encouraged the students from Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Egypt to conitnue being united in prayer to the Bishops of all Africa gathered in Rome for the Synod, “so that the Church may bring her effective contribution to reconciliation, justice and peace, to this beloved continent, and that she may be an authentic sign of hope for all African peoples.”
Speaking in English to the youth of Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Sudan, the Pope invoked the intercession of Mary for the success of the Synod and so that she may “sustain Christians everywhere, especially the peoples of Africa.” He also sent 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.”
Lastly, he thanked the youth of Mozambique for their prayer and Christian witness, entrusting the Virgin Mary with all the youth of Mozambique and all Portuguese-speaking nations in Africa.
Before imparting his Apostolic Blessing, the Holy Father concluded with these words: “With this reciting of the Rosary we have entrusted the II Synod for Africa to the maternal intercession of the Holy Virgin. We place in her hands the hopes, expectations and projects of the African peoples, along with their difficulties and sufferings.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 12/10/2009)