Port Louis, 04 September, 2019 / 1:46 am (ACI Africa).
Just a day before Pope Francis begins his Fourth Pastoral visit to Africa, he has addressed the people of God in Mauritius through a video message in which he anticipates his joy when he will be among them.
“It will be my joy for me to proclaim the Gospel among your people,” the Holy Father said, addressing people in the Indian Ocean island nation known for its lagoons, beaches, and reefs.
The Pontiff is set to begin his fourth pastoral visit to the continent with Mozambique, then Madagascar, and conclude with Mauritius on September 9.
He acknowledged the cultural diversity that characterizes Mauritians and described them as a people who “have distinguished themselves for having been formed by the coming together of different ethnicities.”
Among the ethnic groups in Mauritius are Sino-Mauritian, Indo-Mauritian, Franco-Mauritian and Creole.
In the video message, the Bishop of Rome reminded the inhabitants of Mauritius that the Catholic Church “is sent to all people and speaks all of the world’s languages and (that) the language of the Gospel is love.”
He sought the intercession of the Virgin Mary so that his message might have an impact among the people of God in Mauritius and requested for prayers saying, “I ask you, please pray for me even more these days, as you are already in my heart and I am praying for you.”
While in Mauritius, the Holy Father will celebrate mass at the Monument of Mary Queen of Peace, meet with members of the Episcopal Conference of the Indian Ocean as well as the President, the Prime Minister, government authorities, civil society leaders and the diplomatic corps.
Later, the Pontiff will have a private visit to the Shrine of Blessed Jacques-Desire Laval, who is also known as the “apostle of Mauritius.”
Blessed Laval was a professed member of the Spiritans who served among the ill and the poor.
This is the second time Mauritius will be visited by a Pope after the 1989 visit by St. John Paul II.
Pope Francis thanked the people of Mauritius saying, “I know you have been preparing for quite some time for this encounter.”
“Thank you, and see you soon!” he concluded.
