Departing from Zaire (6 May 1980)

On Tuesday, 6 May 1980, the Holy Father gave his parting words in Kisanga, on his departure from Zaire.

Mr. Commissioner of State,
Mr. Cardinal,
Excellencies,
Dear Brothers and Sisters,

God be praised!

1.These few days on the land of Zaire allowed me to make very pleasant and very enriching contacts with the population of this country, with its religious and civil leaders, with the different categories of the people of God, bishops, priests, seminarians, men and women religious, families, lay people involved in the various movements, catechists, students, young people, with the missionaries, with the citizens of the big cities and those of the rural world who had joined them. I had to limit myself to two characteristic regions, those of Kinshasa and Kisangani. I know that the immense Zaire includes many others. I would still have many things to discover with you! I have to leave, with regret, for new African countries. But what I expressed during my meetings or celebrations, I said this thinking of all Catholics and all the inhabitants of this nation. And I want to greet them one last time, with feelings of esteem and all the warmth of my affection.

2. Thank you, Mr. Commissioner of State, for your presence, and I ask you to convey my sincere gratitude to His Excellency the President of the Republic for the benevolent welcome which I received. reserved and all the zeal that has been deployed to ensure the smooth running of this stay. I also thank the members of the Government and all the civil servants. I was also happy to talk to the authorities who have the heavy responsibility for the common good of the whole country.

I thank dear Cardinal Joseph Malula who welcomed me so warmly in Kinshasa and who, through his membership of the Sacred College, has for a long time forged special ties with the Successor of Peter and the Church which is in Rome. I thank Monsignor Fataki, the Archbishop of this place, whom I was happy to find here, at his home. I thank all the other Bishops of Zaire, my brothers, with whom I have lived moments of great communion which will continue. Along with them, I thank all the faithful of Zaire and their pastors who showed such eagerness to come and meet the Pope, listen to him, pray with him and give him witness to their religious vitality.

3. The centenary of evangelization has allowed us to give thanks to God for all that has been achieved from the seed of the Gospel brought by valiant missionaries. The Church has grown and flourished, like a tree rooted in Zairian soil. The sap is that of the universal Church, for there is only one faith, one baptism, one Lord, one Spirit, one God and Father of all. But its fruits also have, and they must have, the flavor of Africa and more especially of this country and the families that make it up. The Catholic community is entrusted to bishops born of this land, in communion with the successor of Peter.

4. But, as I said when I arrived, this step calls for another. I am not just saying that of perseverance, which is already meritorious. I say rather that of progress in faith and in holiness .

Christ, present among you, present in you, must grasp your African soul in its depths, with its culture - thoughts, feelings and human aspirations - in order to "save" it, in the sense that God sent his Son to "save" the world[ 1 ], that is to say redeem it, elevate it, transfigure it. It is the work of the Redeemer; but each and every one of you has a share of the responsibility.

5. My last instruction will be: live in unity , strengthen this unity. And for that banish all division. Belonging to the same Body of Christ does not suffer from exclusion, contempt or hatred. It calls for collaboration, peace and brotherhood of love. Be peacemakers .

These are the ones who edify the Church. They are the ones who will contribute to building this beautiful and great country, with other Christians and other men of good will.

Union with your bishops will be the guarantee of your progress. And likewise the union with the Pope.

In the memory of the heart and the prayer, you will keep the memory of the exceptional closeness of these last days; be assured also that I will pray unceasingly for you.

Peace be with you all!

Peace be upon Zaire!

With my affectionate Apostolic Blessing.

[ 1 ] Cfr. Io . 3, 17.

© Copyright 1980 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana

 
Copyright © Dicastero per la Comunicazione - Libreria Editrice Vaticana