At the Beginning of his Journey (2 May 1980)

On Friday, 2 May 1980, the Holy Father gave a short Address at the Fiumicino Airport in Rome. 

As I prepare to begin my apostolic journey to Africa, I wish to thank those present with deep esteem and sincere cordiality: Most Eminent Cardinals, members of the. Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See, representative of the Italian Government, and all those who have shown me their affection and encouragement for this new long journey.

The historical context of this initiative is that of participating in the celebrations of the centenary of evangelization in Ghana and Zaire: I am going to the heart of an immense continent, Africa, which received the light of the Christian faith from the missionaries. At the same time, I am happy to be able to participate intensely, with my personal presence, in the joy of these young Churches, in which the autochthonous bishops have already succeeded the missionary bishops.

I have also wanted to extend this my first visit to other nations in the center of the African continent, namely: the People's Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Upper Volta and the Ivory Coast.

Unfortunately, it has not been possible for me to also include all the countries of Africa, from which I have received insistent and affectionate invitations. I thank you for this cordial gesture, and I trust that one day I will be able to respond positively to your wish.

Like my previous trips, this one also has an eminently religious and missionary purpose: the Bishop of Rome, the Pastor of the universal Church, goes to Africa to confirm (cf. Lk 22, 32) the brothers in the Episcopate, the priests , deacons, men and women religious, missionaries, men and women, all united by the same faith in Christ who died for our sins and rose for our justification (cf. Rom 4, 25); to pray with them and to express to those local Churches, full of youthful life and enthusiastic dynamism, the admiration and satisfaction of the whole Church towards them; and to express, furthermore, to all the inhabitants of Africa sincere sentiments of esteem and respect for their traditions and their culture, and to express to them a cordial wish for prosperity and peace.

I am going to the Africa of the Uganda Martyrs and, therefore, I cannot help but express, from this moment, to the nations that I will visit, as well as to all the other nations of that continent, the affection and hope that the Pope and the Church feel for them. Contemporary Africa has an unquestionable importance and an original role in the context of international life today, due to its problems of a political, social, and economic nature; for its dynamism, inherent to the forces full of vigor and vitality of its inhabitants. That great continent is building, even in the midst of many tensions, its own history. African Catholics, as well as all believers in Christ, together with all those who believe in God, will certainly be able to offer a valid and valuable contribution of ideas and works for the construction of an Africa that,

May the Lord, in these days, give strength to my steps, which announce peace (cf. Is 52, 7). .

May the Virgin Mary, in whose maternal heart I have placed the achievement of the spiritual goals of my journey, assist me, Africa and the entire Church.

Copyright © Dicastero per la Comunicazione - Libreria Editrice Vaticana