{UAH} Pope comments on his recent visit to Cuba and USA

It was during this Wednesday's public weekly audience at the Vatican that the Pope took

the opportunity to express entire full satisfaction regarding his recent visit to Cuba and the USA.

The general weekly audience brought multitudes of of pilgrims to St Peter's Square, and simultaneously

to the Paul VI Auditorium where thousands of the old and disabled pilgrims had been assembled to follow

the audience on gigantic screens. In the Square alone, there were over 120,000 pilgrims and it took the Pope

over 20 minutes to circulate among pilgrims in his popemobile. Among those present were pilgrimages from

all continents and regions of the world including pilgrims from Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, South Africa, Samoa,

New Zealand, India, Sri Lanka, etc... The African pilgrims were noted for their ululation that quaked the entire Square.

In his speech, the Pope thanked both President Castro and Obama for the welcome accorded to him. He extended the

same sentiments of gratitude to the people, the religious and clergy of the two nations. Having outlined the culminating points

of his visit to Cuba, he reiterated St John Paul II's words on the island nation : Cuba must open to the world and the world must

open to Cuba. He appealed to the international community to help Cuba come out of her difficulties.

On the USA, the Pope also gave an outline of the various stages of his visit there : Washington, New York, and Philadelphia.

He cited the major highlights of the visit that included a canonization ceremony, an address to the US Congress, An Address to the UN General

Assembly, Holy Mass at Madison Square Gardens, and the closure of the Week for the Families symposium. all these were occasions to

bring to surface themes about the importance of family in society, the protection of environment, peace and development, etc...

He thanked the Archbishop of Philadelphia for his committed engagement on family. He further advised the vast audience to take family

as a key for creating a model to promote development for the good of the entire global human family.

He lastly requested the faithful to pray for the Synod of Bishops on Family due to start soon in Rome.

In fact, the Pope is to preside at a Vigil of prayer and spiritual recollection  ( for family ) this coming Saturday evening ( 03/10/2015 ) in St Peter's Square

where tens of thousands of faithful will gather to pray with the Pope for this noble intention on family.

It's now evident that the Pope will come out of this Synod very triumphnat. His views are now more and more clearly understood by all and in addition

he has the full support of his entire Church. The 90-page document issued by the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar

has been judged very impressive and it will ease things at the Synod. The Africans have very wisely said that although they are culturally different

from the Western World, nevertheless their African Christian culture draws inspiration from Western Christian values, and therefore they will move

on the same pace with the Western churches. This has been judged as a very wise move that will help to resolve any anticipated contradiction

in matters regarding the debate itself and its proceedings! This wonderful document is the fruit of the work of six eminent  African theologians

who were officially named by the African bishops to prepare the synodal document that has real substance! Hats off to them!!!

At the same time preparations for the World Youth Day in Cracow, Poland, are in full gear. The event is scheduled to begin on July 26, 2016 and will be presided by the Pope himself. France is making arrangements to send there the 60,000 youths who have already been registered in their various

dioceses. Many French chaplains have already flown there to monitor the necessary arrangements. Italy is sending 100,000 youths. All in all, a total of

2.5 million youths are certainly expected in Poland for the occasion.

During his stay in Poland the Pope is expected to visit the Nazi camp of Auschwitz where millions of poor innocent Jews were tortured and put to death

in gas chambers by mad-man Hitler's primitive barbaric army. The Pope will indeed pray for the innocent victims while there.

Dr G.H. Kkolokolo ( Paris / France )