Pope Francis in Congo: More than a million people at Mass

Pope Francis has traveled to Africa for the fifth time. He was received enthusiastically in the Congo capital of Kinshasa, and more than a million people came to a trade fair. The Pope called for an end to violence on the African continent.

At a service in Kinshasa with more than a million people, Pope Francis prayed for an end to violence on the African continent. He encouraged people to be “missionaries of peace” and “work with all to break the cycle of violence and shatter the plots of hatred.”

That’s what he said during his sermon in the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The head of the Catholics had landed there on Tuesday and was received euphorically.

Many of the believers had already made their way to the N’Dolo military airport during the night. Large crowds lined the streets where Francis was driven to the service in the Pope’s mobile. According to the organizers, more than a million people were gathered at the airfield. Many women wore dresses made from fabrics depicting Francis.

Onward journey to Sudan

The Mass should be one of the highlights of the Pope’s trip to Congo and South Sudan, where Francis is traveling on Friday. Both countries are repeatedly shaken by bloody conflicts and attacks. Francis hopes the violence will end. “May it be a propitious moment for you who call yourself a Christian in this country but commit acts of violence; the Lord says to you: ‘Put down your arms and accept mercy,'” the 86-year-old preached.

In the afternoon, meetings with victims of violence from the east of the country and with employees of aid organizations were on the agenda for the pope. For the Pope, it is the fifth trip to the African continent and his 40th trip abroad since he took office almost ten years ago.