Pope Benedict XVI is expected to make his maiden visit to Africa in March 2009. The spiritual father of the Catholic Church would visit Cameroon and Angola, the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano disclosed over the weekend. Benedict, 81, made the surprise announcement in St. Peter’s Basilica.

Pope Benedict was speaking 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 added.

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.

Reacting to the news of the Pope’s visit to Cameroon, Fr. Aloysius Ituka Ndifor, Principal, Saint Joseph’s College, Sasse, Buea, said it was a Pastor coming to visit his people. “Cameroonians should not trivialize it. They should take it as a special favour from the successor of St. Peter on earth. We look forward to that maiden visit with great excitement, joy and continuous prayers,” he added.

Pope Benedict’s predecessor, Pope John Paul II visited Cameroon twice; 1985 and 1995.