Hailing Pope Benedict XVI's decision to resign on 28 February, President Boni Yayi of Benin said the head of the Catholic Church worldwide made “valuable intellectual contributions to efforts to solve the numerous problems shaking today’s world.
In a letter released in Cotonou and obtained by PANA, President Yayi said the entire Benin people were grateful to the Pope for his commitment, sacrifice and availability to serve all the creatures of God.
The letter said “In these trying times for the Catholic church, your wise and respectable decision to resign showed your humility in the way you appreciate the challenges of today’s world which are characterized by rapid changes and shaken by important issues confronting the Catholic world.”
He said the Catholic pontiff was open to dialogue and identified himself with the African continent.
President Yayi visited the Vatican twice while the Pope visited Benin for three days in November 2011.
Pana 13/02/2013