Africa through the eyes and heart of Pope John Paul II
During his papacy, Pope John Paul II made sixteen visits to Africa, visiting forty-two nations of that continent. His visits drew large crowds, and in return for his blessing, his love and his concern for the people of Africa, John Paul II received many gifts reflecting the varied beauty of the arts and cultures of the African nations. These gifts are now part of a special exhibit at the Cultural Center
Among the gifts displayed, visitors can see a magnificent elephant tusk from Cameroon, and a beautiful cape, made of black and white fur and lined in yellow silk, with an accompanying miter decorated with cowry shells, a symbol of high status in Africa. John Paul wore these vestments in Kenya. Also on display is a wooden shield engraved with the coat of arms of Uganda, portraying a crested crane and a Ugandan Kob, a type of antelope.
Visitors can also see a beautiful floor table from Nigeria, done in leather with the red and white floral design common to the Yoruba tribe of that nation. From the president of Guinea is a statue in carved mahogany wood of an African male in ceremonial dress, and from Tunisia, a silver dove holding an olive branch of peace.
Several banners used to greet Pope John Paul II are on display, as are various vestments that he was given and wore at his public masses on his trips including one with exquisitely beaded symbols of the Eucharist: chalices, wheat, grapes. Another has an intricate design of African masks and altars.
The exhibit gives each visitor a sense of the impact of Pope John Paul II on the people of the world, an impact born of his interest in what he called everyone’s journey in life, of his appreciation for all cultures, and of his love for all people whom he considered his brothers and sisters.
Come to see this special exhibit.
“MVIDI MUKULU.” John Paul’s greeting in Zaire: “God bless you.”
