A young Madagascar girl sat nervously on the side of a humble stage, sporting a white dress, light pink sweater and green sandals – a colorful, seemingly new ensemble perhaps bought with considerable sacrifice by her parents for the occasion.
Africa
Pope shares stage with fellow Argentine who insists ‘poverty is not fate’
The great majority of those who packed the small sports stadium Sunday were children who live in the 5,000 homes built by Opeka and his foundation. Some 15,000 children a year receive a free education that runs from kindergarten to university. The kids waited for hours for Francis to arrive, singing songs and cheering whenever Opeka spoke to them in Malagasi, the local language.
Pope Brings Hope to Madagascar, Where 90 Percent Live Below the Poverty Line
On Friday, Pope Francis was due to touch down in Madagascar, the second leg of his three-nation African trip.
Pope Urges War-Torn Mozambique to Cultivate ‘Delicate Flower’ of Peace
On his first full day in Mozambique, a country torn apart by a civil war from 1977 to 1992 and still struggling with violence, Pope Francis said lasting peace is not the mere absence of armed conflict but a tireless commitment to secure equal opportunities for all, because if some “are left on the fringes,” aggression will eventually explode.
Pope Heads to ‘Three M’s’ of the Indian Ocean, Seeking Peace and Reconciliation
Pope Francis’s return to sub-Saharan Africa begins in Mozambique, a nation which, according to the United Nations, ranks among the world’s poorest and least developed despite being rich in natural resources. Locals hope Francis’s visit inspires “Hope, Peace and Reconciliation,” as the country is still feeling the effects of a bloody civil war from 1977 to 1992.
Matters of Life and Death: Pope to Bring His Message to Southern Africa
Rejecting violence, promoting interreligious harmony, caring for the environment and stamping out government corruption are expected to be high on the agenda Sept. 4-10 when Pope Francis visits Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius.
CAR Bishop Holds the Line Against a ‘Philosophy of Vengeance’
Bishop Nestor-Desire Nongo-Aziagbia of the Central African Republic has been kidnapped on one occasion and shot at on another, yet his peaceful and calm disposition hasn’t been rattled.
African Bishops Discuss Illegal Migration From the Continent
Bishops in Africa say they need to work together to mitigate the risks of illegal immigration.
Zeal for Motherland Inspires African Catholics in Jamaica
Once a year, the vibrant African community at St. Joseph’s Church comes alive and fully embodies the spirit of their continent’s vibrant Catholic traditions.
Cardinal Tobin: African Priests and Religious Are Big Help to US Church
The presence in the United States of about 3,000 priests and religious from countries in Africa is a great contribution to the U.S., said Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., of Newark, N.J.