SW News: The African nation of Burkina Faso has paid tribute to Pope emeritus Benedict XVI by renaming a street in the capital after him. During the ceremony in which street 54.160 was rechristened as Pope Benedict XVI Street on June 13, Cardinal Philippe Ouedraogo said Pope Benedict was a great pastor whose name brings hope to Burkina Faso, to Africa and to the world, promoting dialogue, reconciliation and justice and peace.

The thoroughfare named after the pope emeritus is also the location of the apostolic nunciature. During the event, Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Michael Crotty said the naming of the street was a sign of gratitude to the emeritus pope who was instrumental in establishing the nunciature in the capital, Ouagadougou on June 12, 2007.

The very same day, Archbishop Vito Rallo was named as the first apostolic nuncio resident in the country.

The nuncio thanked the city council for naming the street after Pope Benedict XVI, adding that the street has significance as it is the location of the rectorate of the Catholic University of West Africa.

Mayor of Ouagadougou Armand Beouinde recalled how Pope Benedict XVI, who now leads a retired life in the Vatican, visited neighboring Benin in 2011. He is "a man who has always worked for reconciliation between peoples, for interreligious dialogue, and for faith,” said the mayor.

Burkina Faso is located in West Africa and has a population of 20 million people out of which 19 per cent are Catholics.