DRC: in Ndolo, the faithful at the rendezvous for the great mass of Pope Francis

DRC, Ndolo airport in Kinshasa: some faithful spent the night on the site or arrived very early this Wednesday morning to be able to attend the great mass of Pope Francis.

REUTERS - LUC GNAGO

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

Pope Francis, who arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo yesterday, had very strong words to denounce what he called economic colonialism, and castigated the predation of resources while populations are suffering.

And this Wednesday morning, he celebrates a great mass at Ndolo airport.

A much-awaited moment for the Congolese faithful.

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with our special correspondents in Kinshasa

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The atmosphere is already well established this morning, an animator warms up the crowd and the choirs are already in place with 700 singers.

Religious songs and Congolese rumba… 

Ndolo airport has been converted into a huge open-air cathedral where a million people are expected.

A vigil took place at the end of the day yesterday with prayers and songs.

The government has decreed this Wednesday morning a public holiday and schools will be closed all day.

Thousands of police, military and members of the Republican Guard have been deployed throughout Pope Francis' route and at the airport site.   

This morning, the crowd is there and continues to arrive.

They are thousands to take place to try to see the pope.

The faithful, many of whom wear flags, T-shirts, dresses or loincloths bearing the image of the pope.

They tell us of having spent the night here, some of them have not eaten but believe that everything is worth waiting for the blessing of the sovereign pontiff.

A message of peace and comfort

They are expecting a message of comfort from the pope, which will give them the energy to move forward.

The Pope in his first speech yesterday called for an end to stifling Africa and exploiting it, the faithful here in Ndolo are waiting for a message of peace, of comfort: from the poorest and from the populations who suffer from the conflict in the east of the country with new attacks in Ituri in North and South Kivu.

They want him to call on the rulers, the armed groups that are raging in the east and the neighboring countries, for peace and reconciliation.

And in this election year, they are also waiting for a message that the elections will run smoothly.  

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: in Kinshasa, Pope Francis denounces the "economic colonialism" which "is unleashed" in Africa

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