By RFPosted on 05-09-2019Modified on 05-09-2019 at 12:53
Pope Francis arrived in Mozambique on Wednesday night, the first leg of a week-long trip. In his first speech on Thursday morning, François praised the country agreement recently concluded in this country.
With our correspondent in Maputo, Xavier Le Normand
After being welcomed on Wednesday night with songs and dances, Pope Francis spoke on Thursday morning before the Mozambican authorities. A word was hammered throughout his speech of ten minutes: peace. It must be remembered that the government and the opposition reached an agreement in early August ending years of sometimes violent hostilities.
Rather than the " fratricidal struggle ", this agreement provides a glimpse of a " redrawn future of peace and reconciliation, " the pope said. The Mozambicans, he said, have the " courage of peace " to recognize each other as " sons of the same land ".
However, the head of the Catholic Church warned against the temptation of a false peace that would be a mere absence of conflict. For true peace, there must be a " tireless commitment " by all to the dignity of each, he explained. This requires in particular to fight against the " tendency to plunder and spoliation " which - according to him - exists in this country.
Pope Francis will remain in Mozambique until tomorrow evening, where he will fly to Madagascar before continuing two days later to Mauritius.
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