• Pope Benedict visits western Africa to outline the Catholic Church's future on the continent

    Alessandro Bianchi / Reuters

    Pope Benedict XVI waves from the pope-mobile as he leaves the Cathedral in Cotonou during his pastoral visit in Benin on Nov. 18, 2011. Pope Benedict urged African nations to resist the temptation to surrender to market forces as they grow and modernise.

    AP Reports

    COTONOU, Benin -- Pope Benedict's first trip to Africa two years ago was overshadowed by his controversial comments, when he drew criticism on this continent ravaged by HIV/AIDS for saying that condom distribution was increasing the problem. This time the pope is hoping to present a document on how church doctrine can be used to solve the continent's ills, drawing on ideas provided by African bishops themselves.

    "May this document fall into the ground and take root, grow and bear much fruit," the pope said upon arrival. Read more…

    Issouf Sanogo / AFP - Getty Images

    Women dance during Pope Benedict XVI's welcoming ceremony at the Bernadin Gantin airport in Benin.

    Finbarr O'Reilly / Reuters

    People wave as Pope Benedict XVI passes on the street in Benin's main city Cotonou.

    

    Related story: Don’t put all trust in markets, Pope Benedict tells Africa

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  • Rebecca Blackwell / AP

    Market workers search for scraps of metal to sell amongst the bulldozed and burnt remains of Zongo market, in Cotonou, Benin, on Nov. 17. Workers and residents say police forces destroyed the market without warning on Tuesday, citing an order from the city to make the area presentable ahead of the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI. The 84-year-old pope arrives Friday for a three-day visit to the tiny west African nation.

    Benin police bulldoze market to beautify capital ahead of pope's visit

    The AP reports:

    In Cotonou, Benin's sleepy capital, public service announcements on TV and billboards enjoined citizens to clean their city ahead of Pope Benedict's visit. One billboard showed a picture of the pope next to three suggestions: Sweep your street, pick up the garbage and repaint your house.

    Workers and residents say police forces destroyed the Zongo market in Cotonou without warning on Tuesday, citing an order from the city to make the area presentable ahead of the pope's arrival.

    The lawns on the medians separating major boulevards had been removed, after the mayor's office determined that it was easier to simply rip out the grass rather than trying to pick out the thousands of cigarette butts and pieces of trash. It means that most of the highways are now separated by a band of dirt, decorated with fresh tractor tracks.