At audience, pope confirms African synod, relaxes with crowd

Published: 2005-06-22

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- With a dozen African cardinals and bishops seated behind him, Pope Benedict XVI announced that he was confirming Pope John Paul II's decision to convoke a second Synod of Bishops for Africa. "I nourish great hope that this gathering will mark a further impulse on the African continent for evangelization, the consolidation and growth of the church and the promotion of reconciliation and peace," the pope said June 22 at the end of his weekly general audience. Pope Benedict did not say when the synod would take place, although it was expected to take several years to prepare. The bishops present at the audience were in Rome to begin planning for the gathering. The first special assembly of the Synod of Bishops was held in 1994. For the next 10 years, a small group of African bishops met annually at the Vatican to discuss the implementation of the synod's recommendations and new challenges facing the church on the continent. Vatican officials said significant changes in the situation of the church and society in Africa since 1994 gave rise to the idea of a second synod for Africa. An estimated 31,000 people had gathered in St. Peter's Square under a scorching summer sun for the audience. When the crowd began to cheer the pope, he waved and kept repeating "thank you," which only seemed to fuel people's enthusiasm

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