POPE HOPES G8 WILL PROMOTE AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT

VATICAN CITY, JUL 3, 2005 (VIS) - The recent publication of the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the forthcoming meeting of leaders of the G8 countries at Gleneagles, Scotland, one of the themes of which will be eradicating poverty in Africa, were the two main subjects of the Pope's reflections during today's Angelus.

  Benedict XVI pointed out that the publication of the compendium on June 28 had coincided with the opening of the cause of beatification of John Paul II, who had given that publication "a decisive impulse." He went on: "In an ideal dialogue between master and disciple, the compendium provides a broad exposition of the faith of the Church and of Catholic doctrine as contained in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, published by my venerated predecessor in 1992. ... It sheds light on the extraordinary unity of the mystery of God, on His salvific plan for all humanity and on the centrality of Jesus."

  "How important it is," the Holy Father exclaimed, "at the beginning of this third millennium, for the Christian community unanimously to proclaim, teach and bear integral witness to the truths of faith, and of Catholic doctrine and morals." The Pope expressed the hope that the compendium may contribute to "the renewal of catechesis and evangelization, ... so that all Christians ... in all environments may become catechists and evangelizers, helping others to encounter Christ."

  In remarks following the Angelus, Benedict XVI mentioned the summit meeting of heads of State and government of the world's most industrialized nations (G8), scheduled to begin on July 6 at Gleneagles, Scotland. One of the themes of the meeting is Africa, "a frequently forgotten continent," the Pope recalled, adding: "With all my heart, I wish full success to this meeting, in the hope that it may lead to sharing the costs of debt reduction in solidarity, implementing concrete measures for eradicating poverty and promoting authentic development in Africa."
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