Arrival in Rome (12 May 1980)

On Monday May 12, 1980, the Holy Father, returning from his Apostolic Journey to Africa, landed at Fiumicino Airport, Rome, where he spoke of the encouragement he received for his Petrine ministry of confirming the brethren in the Faith.

Laus Deo!

These brief words, which come spontaneously to my lips, after my trip to the African continent, want to interpret the deep feeling of gratitude and honor to the Lord that I now experience in my spirit, as I remember the many encounters, the moving shows of faith, the unique pastoral experiences that I have lived daily in such a short period of 10 days. I truly must give thanks to the Lord with all my heart that he has once again given me the opportunity to get to know selected portions of his only Church up close, contributing to the dearest brothers and children who live in the lands I have visited, that encouragement that I must take them by virtue of the mandate received from Christ (cf. Lk 22, 32: Confirma fratres tuos!). For my part —according to that admirable law of exchange, intrinsic to ecclesial communion— I have received from them reasons of encouragement for my ministry.

Indeed, I have been able to savor an intimate joy in bringing the Word of the Lord to these populations, as the missionaries did 100 years ago; and this joy has been increased by having been able to observe the maturity to which those Churches have already reached, despite their relatively recent foundation. Your testimony of faith and your love for the entire Church of Christ, spread throughout the world, have deeply comforted me. I cannot silence the deep impression that I have had when noticing the vitality of this continent, which preserves intact not a few fundamental moral values, such as those of hospitality, of the family, of the sense of community, of life as an invaluable gift, to which always reserves a generous and joyful welcome.

When, at the general audience on March 26,, I made the official communication of the trip, which now concludes happily, I wanted to highlight its apostolic character, and I said that I only moved my steps with the intention of corresponding to my mission as Pastor. Consistent with that announcement, I can now affirm that this is how my visit has really been: I have approached many souls; I have been able to realize the living conditions of so many populations; I have been able to verify with great satisfaction —based on a "test", I would say, quite broad and representative— the magnificent work that has been done in the past and is still being done for the increase of the Kingdom of God. Africa is intimately nourished by the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ, it is consecrated to the glory of his name, it is open to the breath of his Spirit, Laus Deo!

My thanks then go to all those who, in each of the countries where I have been, have prepared, with exquisite delicacy, the most appropriate and careful welcome. Therefore, I want to name all the civil and religious authorities of those countries, and in particular the brother bishops, whose individual activity and collegial work within the Episcopal Conferences I have admired, the priests and the religious, missionaries and missionaries, representatives and members of lay Catholic Movements, Christian families, all the faithful. What they have done for me, what they have shown me with their gestures, with their words and with their attention will remain indelible in my memory as a sign and encouragement of sincere gratitude. Africa has a great future ahead of it;

Finally, I must thank each of you present here. Mr. Prime Minister, I am very grateful to you for the deferential words that he addressed to me at the moment when I set foot on the beloved and always hospitable soil of Italy. And to you, brother cardinals and bishops, Your Excellencies Ambassadors of the countries accredited to the Holy See, Lord Mayor of Rome, I want to express that I consider your coming here as a cordial adherence to the initiative of my trip and its purposes; I know you have also prayed for his success. For this, I have more than one reason to thank you publicly and to invite you, moreover, to direct with me this feeling to Him who is the splendid giver of all good and the only one who can give the necessary increase to human endeavors (cf. 1 color3, 6-7),

Laus Deo! And after having heard his words, Mr. Prime Minister, I want to add: Peace to men, peace to beloved Italy, peace to the world.

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