19 November 2011
Last updated at 03:19 ET
The Pope was greeted by thousands of people as he toured Cotonou on the first day of his visit to Benin
Pope Benedict is to present plans by the Roman Catholic church to encourage reconciliation in Africa, on the second day of his visit to the state of Benin.
The Pope will travel to the city of Ouidah, the symbolic heartland of Voodoo, where he is expected to call for respect for traditional beliefs but issue a warning against witchcraft.
Ouidah is home to one of the largest Catholic cathedrals in West Africa.
Large crowds are expected to greet the Pontiff in the city.
The Pope’s day begins in the capital, Cotonou, where he will meet Benin’s head of state, Thomas Boni Yayi.
He will also be greeted by other dignitaries, who are expected to include some leaders of traditional African religions.
The Church’s reconciliation plans are contained in a formal apostolic exhortation entitled The Pledge for Africa (Africae Munus in Latin), which the Pope will sign in Ouidah.
The document was drawn
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