Vatican City, Sep 26, 2004 / 22:00 pm
The pontifical representatives from Africa were received on Saturday in Castelgandolfo by Pope John Paul II, who thanked them for their zeal and witness in difficult situations and for sharing in the suffering of the Churches which they serve.
The meeting marked the 10th anniversary of the Synod for Africa and the sixth anniversary of the post-synodal document "Ecclesia in Africa."
The Pope recalled Archbishop Michael Courtney, apostolic nuncio in Burundi who was assassinated last December, saying "May his heroic witness infuse renewed vigor in everyone working for peace in Burundi and on the entire continent of Africa."
"I know," said John Paul II, "that you undertake your service with zeal and fidelity, in the midst of difficult situations, sharing the sufferings and dramas of the Churches and peoples to whom you were sent."