Announced: Pope Benedict to visit Africa in 2009!

What. A. Pope.

Details:

It’s official — Pope Benedict XVI plans to make his first trip to Africa next March, visiting Cameroon and Angola.

The pope said he will hand-deliver the African synod’s Instrumentum Laboris, or working document, when he travels to Cameroon in March to meet with representatives from African bishops’ conferences.

... Pope Benedict said he would go from Cameroon to Angola, where he will celebrate the 500th anniversary of that country’s evangelization.

For months, rumors have been percolating around the Vatican of a papal trip to Africa, a continent that has not hosted a pope since 1998. In October, the Vatican’s advance team traveled to Africa to firm up plans, according to sources.

At present, it’s the only foreign trip on the pope’s calendar next year. With the synod to follow, it looks like 2009 with be a year of Africa for the church. (CNS Blog)

Gee, I wonder who wants to give me press credentials? I'm serious.

And ... I hate to say it now, but I can predict what the mainstream media's talking points will be:

• The Church in Africa is experiencing an uptick in conversions to evangelical and other protestant churches (partially true)
• The Church's prohibition against condoms is exacerbating the humanitarian crisis (false)
• Celibacy and discipline are generally lax in the Church in Africa (partially true)

Time to start doing our homework. Pope Benedict proclaimed Hope to the Church in America - will he proclaim Love to the Church in Africa?