Pope Francis on Thursday
praised Mozambique's peace efforts in a speech to the African
country's authorities.
The Pope dedicated most of his first speech in Maputo to
what he called "the efforts made in recent decades to ensure
that peace is once more the norm and reconciliation the best
path to confront the difficulties and challenges that you face
as a nation".
Pope Francis was referring to the peace agreement signed just
a month ago, guaranteeing a definitive cessation of military
hostilities between Mozambique government forces and those of
the RENAMO opposition party. The first agreement that ended a
17-year long civil war that killed over one million people, was
signed in Rome in 1992, with the mediation of the Rome-based
Sant'Egidio lay movement.
"You have experienced suffering, sorrow and affliction", said
the Pope, "but you have refused to let human relationships be
governed by vengeance or repression, or to allow hatred and
violence to have the final word". Pope Francis confirmed how
"the pursuit of lasting peace is a mission", one that depends on
everyone and that calls for "strenuous, constant and unremitting
effort".
Pope Francis left Rome Wednesday for a seven-day African trip
that will take him to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius.
The Pope arrived in Maputo on Wednesday evening. He will spend
Thursday and Friday in Maputo.
On Friday afternoon, he will fly to Antananarivo, Madagascar,
where he will stay until Sunday evening.
Monday morning, Pope Francis will travel to Port Louis,
Mauritius, for the conclusion of his Apostolic Journey. He will
return to Rome on Tuesday.
It is the 31st trip of his pontificate.
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