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Photos: Pope Francis visits Mozambique

Pope Francis on Thursday spent most of the day during his visit to Mozambique urging citizens there to nurture peace to make it last.

The pontiff spent time with warring factions in the Southern African country where a recent peace accord was signed to formally end years of civil war.

The Pope said to the gathering that “Peace must be the norm and reconciliation the best way to face the country’s difficulties,”.

Peace was like “a delicate flower”, according to the Pope who said it has struggled to blossom on “the stony ground of violence”.

Pope Francis
Pope Francis gestures after giving an address to interfaith youth in the capital Maputo, Mozambique.
Photo: AP

The Pope urged political leaders in Mozambique to do away with fanaticism and create equal opportunities for all.

Pope Francis in Mozambique
Pope Francis greets Filipe Nyusi, the president of Mozambique, in Maputo. Photo Credit: Vatican Media.

“Without equal opportunities, the different forms of aggression and conflict will find a fertile terrain for growth and eventually explode,” he said.

Pope Francis in Mozambique
Pope Francis waves at the crowd next to Mozambican President Felipe Nyusi (R) upon his arrival at the Maputo International Airport. Photo: Gianluigi Guercia, AFP |

During an interfaith meeting of youth groups in the capital, Maputo, the pontiff said “Many of you were born at a time of peace, a hard-won peace that was not always easy to achieve and took time to build.

“Peace is a process that you too are called to advance, by being ever ready to reach out to those experiencing hardship.”

Pope Francis in Mozambique
Crowds have thronged in Maputo to catch a glimpse of the Pope. Photo: AFP

Prior to his trip to Mozambique, there was a controversy over the cost of his visit.

Pope in Mozambique
People cheer as Pope Francis arrives at the airport in Maputo. Photo:. (CNS/Paul Haring)

The Mozambique government said it would spend about $325,000 on preparations for the visit.

Foreign Minister Jose Pacheco told Radio Mozambique that “There is a basic budget but it is being adjusted, considering that when things like this are being done, there are occasional situations which need to be dealt with.”

Source: Africafeeds.com

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