VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI will make his first visit as pontiff to Africa next year in a visit to both Cameroon and Angola, he said Sunday.
The 81-year-old Benedict made the surprise announcement in St. Peter's Basilica, during a ceremony closing three weeks of discussions by bishops from around the world about the Bible's importance in the life of the Church.
"It is my intention to go next March to Cameroon" as part of preparations for an October 2009 bishops' meeting at the Vatican dealing with Africa, Benedict said at the end of his homily.
"God willing, I will also go to Angola, to solemnly celebrate the 500th anniversary of the evangelization of that country," Benedict said. Angola, a former Portuguese colony with a large Catholic population, is recovering from a 27-year civil war that ended in 2002.
Benedict did not give specific dates for the trip, which will likely be announced later by the Vatican.
Since being elected pontiff in 2005, Benedict has visited several European countries, including France in September, his latest foreign trip. He also traveled to Brazil, the United States and Australia earlier this year.
