COTONOU, Benin (Zenit.org) - Benedict XVI's 22nd international trip, the second to Africa of this pontificate, centered on the postsynodal apostolic exhortation, signed Saturday and entrusted to the Church on Sunday.

Beyond that document, "Africae Munus" (Africa's Commitment), his 11 public addresses -- and an in-flight press conference -- enabled the 84-year-old Pontiff to pack countless reflections and exhortations into just over 48 hours.

Vatican translations of each of these addresses and the apostolic exhortation are available in their entirety at ZENIT's Web page.

Here are some key phrases from the Pope's speeches:

1) Just arrived in Benin, the Pope spoke of Africa's transition to modernity and warned against pitfalls:

-- [Modernity] needs to be accompanied by prudence for the good of all in order to avoid the pitfalls which exist on the African continent and elsewhere, such as unconditional surrender to the law of the market or that of finance, nationalism or exaggerated and sterile tribalism which can become destructive, a politicization of interreligious tensions to the detriment of the common good, or finally the erosion of human, cultural, ethical and religious values.

2) Later on Friday, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mercy in Cotonou, the Holy Father spoke about divine mercy:

-- Divine mercy consists not only in the remission of our sins; it also consists in the fact that God, our Father, redirects us, sometimes not without pain, affliction or fear on our part, to the path of truth and light, for he does not wish us to be lost (cf. Mt 18:14; Jn 3:16).

3) On Saturday morning, Benedict XVI addressed the president of Benin and other authorities, speaking about two themes: the socio-political and economic life of the continent, and interreligious dialogue. It was a passionate address, in which the Pope said:

-- From this place, I launch an appeal to all political and economic leaders of African countries and the rest of the world. Do not deprive your peoples of hope! Do not cut them off from their future by mutilating their present!

4) The Pontiff then travelled west to the city of Ouidah, where he prayed at the tomb of his friend, a national hero of Benin, Cardinal Bernardin Gantin. He then addressed a group representing the Christian vocations, priests, religious and laity. After a specific message to each group, he said:

-- I would like to encourage you all to have an authentic and living faith, which is the unshakeable foundation of a holy Christian life and which is at the service of the building of a new world.

5) Upon signing the apostolic exhortation -- which like the synod, centers on the themes of reconciliation, justice and peace -- the Pope said:

-- We must never give up the search for new paths of peace! Peace is one of our greatest treasures! To attain peace, we need to have courage and the reconciliation born of forgiveness, the will once more to live as one, to share a vision of the future and to persevere in overcoming difficulties. Men and women reconciled and at peace with God and neighbour can work for greater justice in society. Let us not forget that the Gospel teaches that justice means above all doing God's will.

6) One of the most tender moments of the trip came Saturday afternoon, when the Pope had returned to Cotonou. He visited there the Home of Peace and Happiness, where six Missionaries of Charity look after dozens of abandoned and sick children, and feed may others from the area. The Pope was welcomed by the children with songs and dances, and after his visit to the center, he went to the local parish, where more children awaited him. With simple words, the Holy Father spoke to the children about prayer:

-- Like Jesus, I too can find a calm place to pray where I can quietly stand before a Cross or a holy picture in order to speak to Jesus and to listen to him. I can also use the Gospels. That way, I keep within my heart a passage which has touched me and which will guide me throughout the day. To stay with Jesus like this for a little while lets him fill me with his love, light and life! This love, which I receive in prayer, calls me in turn to give it to my parents, to my friends, to everyone with whom I live, even with those who do not like me, and those whom I do not appreciate enough. Dear young people, Jesus loves you. Ask your parents to pray with you! Sometimes you may even have to push them a little. But do not hesitate to do so. God is that important!

7) The Pontiff finished the day with an address to the bishops of Benin, noting the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the first missionaries to the area. Speaking about evangelization, he told them:

-- May all the faithful have this personal and communal encounter with Christ, and become his messengers. This meeting with Christ must be solidly rooted in openness to ...