“Hands off Africa!” Shortly after landing in Kinshasa in DR Congo, Pope Francis delivered a speech full of stinging condemnation of the exploitation over centuries - not just of this country, but also of the continent.
Religion editor, BBC News, Kinshasa
In the best-received section of the speech he told the outside world to acknowledge the catastrophic things that have been done in the country and to fully respect people here. When this trip was originally set to happen last year the Pope had planned to visit the east of this vast country where the worst of the violence rages, and where millions have been displaced.
The first view the public had of the Pontiff when he landed in Kinshasa was in a wheelchair, but in spite of the promise of a reduced international travel schedule it has been clear in recent months that coming on this trip was a priority for Pope Francis.
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