Pope warns of 'new colonialism'

Rome, 05 Oct-(ANA)-Pope Benedict has warned that a form of colonialism continues to blight Africa.

Opening a three-week synod of African bishops, he said political colonialism was over.

But he said the developed world continued to export materialism - which he called "toxic spiritual rubbish" - to the continent.

Almost 200 bishops from 53 African states have gathered to discuss how the Catholic Church can help resolve the continent's social injustices and wars.

The Pope says he will attend as many of the working sessions of the synod as possible, his other duties permitting. 

Unaccustomed rhythms of Africa filled the huge St Peter's Basilica in Rome, as Pope Benedict formally opened the special synod, reports say.

A choir from the Democratic Republic of Congo sang hymns in the Kikongo and Lingala languages, and prayers were also said in Swahili, Portuguese, Amharic, Hausa and Arabic.

Pope Benedict praised Africa's rich cultural and spiritual treasures, calling them a "spiritual lung" for the world.

The Pope said evangelisation was "urgent" in Africa - though the Catholic Church is already growing faster there than in any other part of the world, nearly trebling in size to 150 million followers over 30 years.

This will be the second synod of bishops organised at the Vatican to be devoted specifically to the problems of Africa.

The first took place in 1994 at the very moment when the Rwandan genocide was beginning. (ANA)

FA/ANA/05 October 2009---