Pope Benedict lays out spiritual vision for Africa on Benin visit

POPE Benedict XVI yesterday led tens of thousands of people in a panoply of African tongues during a Mass in Benin’s national soccer stadium, wrapping up a pilgrimage where he laid out his spiritual vision for Africa.

An estimated 80,000 people bowed their heads in prayer as the Pope blessed the crowd.

The Pope’s vision has been called a “papal road map” for Africa. It applies Church doctrine to address the continent’s ills, especially the wars and conflicts caused by ethnic divisions.