Pope Francis

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-leaves-kenyans-with-a-message-of-encouragemen

Pope leaves Kenyans with a message of encouragement and hope
2015-11-27 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has concluded the first leg of his Apostolic Journey to Africa, travelling from Kenya to Uganda on Friday afternoon. The Holy Father will conclude his first visit to Africa with a stop in the Central African Republic, where he will arrive Sunday evening before returning to Rome the next day.

Vatican Radio’s Linda Bordoni was in Kenya with the Holy Father. She sent this wrap-up of the Pope’s visit:

What will we remember most of Pope Francis’ visit after his farewell to the Kenyan people at Nairobi airport?

Of course his repeated appeals to authorities and policy-makers to bridge the gap between rich and poor, to protect African women and to nurture the youth, his urgent call to step up the war on climate change, his plea for unity between different faiths in the fight against terrorism.

But more than that, Kenyans say they will remember how his words and his gestures touched them personally and individually.

That’s because, for whom he is and in virtue of his very special human touch, Pope Francis never spoke to the people from a pedestal; he listened to what they were saying and responded with the understanding and sensitivity of a person who really cares for the life and the story of each individual.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-plane-arrives-in-uganda

Pope Francis’ plane arrives in Uganda
2015-11-27 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis arrived in Uganda on Friday on the second leg of his 6-day pastoral visit to Africa. During his 2-day stay in the Ugandan capital Kampala, the Pope will visit the Anglican and Catholic shrines of the nation’s Namugongo martyrs and celebrate a Mass in their honour. The 45 martyrs (23 Anglicans and 22 Catholics) were killed during the persecution of Christians in the region from 1885-1887.   

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2015/11/27/popes_gift_to_ugandan_president_an_etching_of_st_peters/1190128

Pope's gift to Ugandan president: an etching of St Peter's
27/11/2015 16:24

Pope Francis' gift to Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni: An etching of St Peter's Basilica by Alessandro Specchi. - RV

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis offered the gift of an etching of St Peter’s Basilica to the President of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. The etching, by Alessandro Specchi, dates to the early 18th century.

Below, please find the official description of Pope Francis’ gift to President Museveni:

Alessandro Specchi (Rome 1666 – 1729)
Prospectus of the Basilica of St. Peter
Etching
1705
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2015/11/27/pope_address_to_diplomats_and_ugandan_authorities/1190073

Pope: address to diplomats and Ugandan authorities
27/11/2015 14:36

(Vatican Radio)  Pope Francis on Friday addressed diplomats and leading figures from Uganda society and encouraged them to “ensure good and transparent governance, integral human development and a wide and just distribution” of Africa’s goods. Referring to Uganda’s famous martyrs, the Pope said they were a reminder of “the importance that faith, moral rectitude and commitment to the common good have played and continue to play” in the life of the nation.  In his address, Pope Francis praised Uganda’s “outstanding concern” for welcoming refugees and said how we deal with them “is a test of our humanity.”

Please find below the full text of Pope Francis’ remarks to diplomats and the Ugandan authorities delivered at the State House of Entebbe:

Mr President,
Honourable Members of Government,
Distinguished Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
My Brother Bishops,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

                 I thank you for your gracious welcome, and I am happy to be in Uganda.  My visit to your country is meant above all to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the canonization of the Uganda Martyrs by my predecessor, Pope Paul VI.  But I hope that my presence here will also be seen as a sign of friendship, esteem and encouragement for all the people of this great nation.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-addresses-catechists-and-teachers

Pope Francis addresses catechists and teachers
2015-11-27 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Friday met catechists and teachers at the Munyonyo shrine situated some 40 kilometres south of the Uganda capital, Kampala. In his brief address to the gathering, he encouraged them to persevere in their “rewarding” but “not easy” work and be not just teachers but also "a witness" through their example.

Please find below an English translation of the Pope’s prepared remarks to the catechists and teachers: 

Greeting to Catechists

Kampala, Munyonyo

Friday, 27 November 2015

Dear Catechists and Teachers, Dear Friends,

                I greet you with affection in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Teacher.

                 “Teacher!”  What a beautiful name this is!  Jesus is our first and greatest teacher.  Saint Paul tells us that Jesus gave his Church not only apostles and pastors, but also teachers, to build up the whole body in faith and love.  Together with the bishops, priests and deacons who are ordained to preach the Gospel and care for the Lord’s flock, you, as catechists, play an outstanding part in bringing the Good News to every village and homestead in your country.
 

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http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2015/pope-to-visit-africa-nov-25-30-including-central-african-republic.cfm

Pope to visit Africa Nov. 25-30; including Central African Republic
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service
11.3.2015 10:56 AM ET
 
Here is the schedule for the trip as released by the Vatican Oct. 17. The times listed are local with Eastern Standard Time in parentheses:
 
Saturday, Nov. 28 (Namugongo, Kampala)

8:30 a.m. (12:30 a.m.) Visit to the Anglican martyrs' shrine at Namugongo.

9:00 a.m. (1 a.m.) Visit to the Catholic martyrs' shrine at Namugongo.

9:30 a.m. (1:30 a.m.) Mass for the martyrs of Uganda near the Catholic shrine. Homily by pope.

3:15 p.m. (7:15 a.m.) Meeting with young people at the Kololo airstrip in Kampala. Speech by pope.

5 p.m. (9 a.m.) Visit to the Nalukolongo House of Charity. Greeting by pope.

6 p.m. (10 a.m.) Meeting with the bishops of Uganda in the archbishop's residence.

7 p.m. (11 a.m.) Meeting with priests, religious and seminarians in Kampala's cathedral. Speech by pope.
 

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Live streaming (check schedule above for EST) on Saturday, November 28, 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRDNFegJ3ik
Francis in Uganda: visit to the Anglican Shrine of Namugongo 2015.11.28 
Scheduled for Nov 28, 2015
Visit to the Anglican Shrine of the Martyrs of Namugongo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F70CD2ZhNEA
Francis in Uganda: Holy mass in Namugongo 2015.11.28 
Scheduled for Nov 28, 2015
Pope Francis vists the Catholic Shrine of Namugongo and presides over Mass for the Martyrs of Uganda

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8vHY5Yolnc
Pope Francis in Uganda: Meeting with the Youth 2015.11.28 
Scheduled for Nov 28, 2015
Meeting with the young people at Kololo Air Strip in Kampala

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9MRaGH18mI
Francis in Uganda: Visit to the Nalukolongo House of Charity 2015.11.28 
Scheduled for Nov 28, 2015
Pope Francis visits the House of Charity of Nalukolongo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsA7_MuVDYI
Francis in Uganda: Meeting with priests - 2015.11.28 
Scheduled for Nov 28, 2015
Meeting with Priests, Men and Women Religious and Seminarians gathered in the Cathedral

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-meets-with-president-of-south-sudan

Pope Francis meets with President of South Sudan
2015-11-28 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis held a private 15-minute meeting with South Sudan's President Salva Kiir on Friday, in Uganda’s statehouse. Fr. Federico Lombardi, the head of the Holy See Press Office, said "It was a private meeting."

South Sudan declared its independence from Sudan in 2011, and has suffered from a civil war since late 2013. The conflicted started after President Kiir had a falling-out with his vice president, Riek Machar.
 

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http://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/2868/0/pope-praises-ecumenism-of-blood-of-anglican-and-catholic-martyrs-in-uganda-

Pope praises “ecumenism of blood” of Anglican and Catholic martyrs in Uganda
28 November 2015 07:49 by Christopher Lamb in Kampala

During his visit to Uganda Pope Francis this morning went to the shrine of the Anglican martyrs who he later described as witnesses to an “ecumenism of blood.”

23 Anglicans and 22 Catholics were killed under the orders of King Mwanga II at the end of the nineteenth century. They were some of the first Christians of the country with the faith being brought to the country by missionaries from both churches.

Pope Francis made a brief visit this morning to the Anglican shrine in Namugongo which is the place of martyrdom of 25 of those killed.

He then went to the national Catholic shrine nearby to say Mass where he was greeted by a crowd of thousands enthusiastically singing and dancing.

During his homily the Pope said of both sets of martyrs: “All these witnesses nurtured the gift of the Holy Spirit in their lives an freely gave testimony of the faith in Jesus Christ, even at the cost of their lives, many at such a young age.”

The phrase “ecumenism of blood” has been used by the Pope before describing Christians of different denominations killed for their faith in the Middle East.

Many of the Catholic martyrs were young pages of King Mwanga and were killed for their refusal to accept his homosexual advances.

During a briefing with journalists last night the Bishop of Lira, Giuseppe Franzelli, a Comboni missionary, said the issue of homosexuality was “still an issue” in Uganda.
 

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http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2015/honor-your-martyrs-by-putting-faith-into-action-pope-tells-ugandans.cfm

Honor your martyrs by putting faith into action, pope tells Ugandans
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service
11.28.2015 8:00 PM ET

CNS/Paul Haring
Pope Francis kneels in prayer as he visits the Anglican martyrs' shrine at Namugongo in Kampala, Uganda Nov. 28. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

KAMPALA, Uganda (CNS) -- As Pope Francis encouraged Ugandan Christians to draw inspiration from the 19th-century Ugandan Martyrs, he carried with him graphic images of the horrors the 45 Anglican and Catholic martyrs endured.

The pope made an early morning visit Nov. 28 to the Anglican shrine and museum located on the site where many of the martyrs died. The main exhibit features realistic statues of men being tortured, bound and thrown on a fire.

Pope Francis had a look of shock on his face as Anglican Archbishop Stanley Ntagali of Uganda explained how the martyrs were executed on the orders of King Mwanga II in the late 1800s.

Afterward, the pope celebrated a Mass outside the nearby Catholic shrine to the martyrs. The shrine has an artificial lake, and Ugandan security patrolled it in a little rubber boat throughout the liturgy.
 

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http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/like-the-martyrs-witness-to-jesus-with-your-life-pope-tells-ugandans-47081/

Like the martyrs, witness to Jesus with your life, Pope tells Ugandans

Pope Francis celebrates Mass at the Shrine of the Uganda martyrs at Namugono Nov. 28, 2015. Credit: Martha Calderon / EWTN.
Kampala, Uganda, Nov 28, 2015 / 12:52 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Marking his first full day in Uganda with Mass to celebrate the nation’s martyrs, Pope Francis said the call to be missionary disciples falls on all of us, whether at home or abroad, with our families or among our enemies.

“Like the Apostles and the Uganda martyrs before us, we have received the gift of the Holy Spirit to become missionary disciples called to go forth and bring the Gospel to all,” the Pope said Nov. 28, presiding over Mass at the Catholic Shrine of the Martyrs of Namugongo.

“If, like the martyrs, we daily fan into flame the gift of the Spirit who dwells in our hearts, then we will surely become the missionary disciples which Christ calls us to be.”
 
http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/full-text-pope-s-homily-at-sanctuary-of-the-ugandan-martyrs-at-namugongo
FULL TEXT: Pope's Homily at Sanctuary of the Ugandan Martyrs at Namugongo.
Uganda,  November 28, 2015

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-to-young-jesus-can-transform-walls-into-a-pat

Pope to young: Jesus can transform walls into a path
2015-11-28 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Saturday encouraged young people in Uganda to turn negative experiences into positive ones with the help of Jesus and his grace.  In an address where the Pope put aside his prepared remarks and spoke off-the-cuff in Spanish, he urged the young people to open the door of their hearts to Jesus. More than 150,000 cheering and dancing young people had gathered at an airstrip near Kampala to hear the Pope and gave him a rousing welcome when he arrived in his Popemobile.  Before speaking to the crowd, the Pope listened to testimony from two young people, Emmanuel and Winnie, both of whom had faced many negative events in their lives.
 
http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/pope-tells-young-ugandans-best-weapon-they-could-ever-possess-is-prayer
Pope Tells Young Ugandans Best 'Weapon' They Could Ever Possess Is Prayer
Uganda,  November 28, 2015

http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/full-text-pope-s-off-the-cuff-address-to-ugandan-youth
FULL TEXT: Pope’s Off-the-Cuff Address to Ugandan Youth
Uganda,  November 28, 2015

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-visits-poor-and-sick-at-kampalas-house-of-cha

Pope visits poor and sick at Kampala's House of Charity
2015-11-28 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) During his stay in the Ugandan capital on Saturday Pope Francis visited a home for the sick, the disabled and down-and-outs run by the Good Samaritan sisters. Before greeting residents and staff at the centre, the Pope visited the tomb of the first Ugandan Cardinal Emmanuel Nsubuga who founded the home in 1978 and was buried in the grounds there.

Pope Francis began his visit to the House of Charity in Nalukolongo by stopping for a few moments of prayer in the chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Africa. He was then accompanied by the Good Samaritan sisters to the tomb of the former Cardinal Emmanuel Nsubuga, who set up the centre and was renowned for his outspoken condemnation of human rights violations during the reign of former dictator Idi Amin. He was also instrumental in organising the first visit of a Roman pontiff to Uganda, helping to coordinate Pope Paul VI’s three day journey to the newly independent nation in the summer of 1969.

Today the House of Charity cares for about a hundred people of all ages and different religious backgrounds, from Uganda as well as from the neighbouring countries of Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi . The youngest patient being cared for by the sisters is an eleven year old child, while the oldest is a man aged 102.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-to-ugandan-religious-seminarians-memory-fidel

Pope to Ugandan religious, seminarians: 'Memory, fidelity, prayer'
2015-11-28 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) The final event on Pope Francis’ agenda on Saturday was a meeting with priest, religious, and seminarians in Kampala cathedral. Putting aside his prepared text, Pope Francis spoke off the cuff in his native Spanish, highlighting three essential points for the clergy - memory, fidelity, prayer - and seeking to strengthen the Christian faith in their country.

Firstly, he told them to keep alive the testimony of the Ugandan martyrs, not allowing themselves to become too comfortable with superficial memories of the past, but continuing to be authentic witnesses to the faith today.

Secondly, the Pope urged the priests and religious to remain faithful, following the way of holiness of the martyrs and being good missionaries. Noting that there are dioceses in the country that have many clergy and others that have very few, the Pope said fidelity means having a diocesan bishop who is generous in offering priests to a neighbouring diocese that is in need.

Thirdly, Pope Francis stressed that fidelity is only possible through prayer. If a priest or religious stops praying because he or she has too much work, he said, then they begin to lose their memory and their fidelity. Prayer means constantly confessing our sins, the Pope concluded, not leading a double life but asking for forgiveness and for the strength to keep the missionary spirit alive.
 
http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/full-text-pope-s-off-the-cuff-address-to-priests-religious-of-uganda
FULL TEXT: Pope’s Off-the-Cuff Address to Priests, Religious of Uganda
Uganda,  November 28, 2015

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http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2015/pope-to-visit-africa-nov-25-30-including-central-african-republic.cfm

Pope to visit Africa Nov. 25-30; including Central African Republic
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service
11.3.2015 10:56 AM ET
 
Here is the schedule for the trip as released by the Vatican Oct. 17. The times listed are local with Eastern Standard Time in parentheses:
 
Sunday, Nov. 29 (Entebbe; Bangui, Central African Republic)

9 a.m. (1 a.m.) Farewell ceremony at Entebbe airport.

9:15 a.m. (1:15 a.m.) Departure for Bangui.

10 a.m. (4 a.m.) Arrival at M'Poko International Airport in Bangui. Welcoming ceremony.

11 a.m. (5 a.m.) Courtesy visit with the country's transitional president in the presidential palace.

11:30 a.m. (5:30 a.m.) Meeting with leaders and with the diplomatic corps. Speech by pope.

12:15 p.m. (6:15 a.m.) Visit to a refugee camp.

1 p.m. (7 a.m.) Meeting with the bishops of the Central African Republic.

4 p.m. (10 a.m.) Meeting with evangelical communities at the evangelical theological school in Bangui. Speech by pope.

5 p.m. (11 a.m.) Mass with priests, religious, catechists and youths in the Bangui cathedral. Homily by pope.

7 p.m. (1 p.m.) Hearing the confessions of some young people and beginning a prayer vigil outside the cathedral. Speech by pope.
 

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Live streaming (check schedule above for EST) on Sunday, November 29, 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25MXtftERfI
Francis in Uganda: Farewell Ceremony - 2015.11.29 
Scheduled for Nov 29, 2015
Farewell ceremony at the Airport of Entebbe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWPr_bRie1w
Francis in Central African Republic: Visit to a refugee camp 2015.11.29 
Scheduled for Nov 29, 2015
Pope Francis visits the Refugee Camp of the St. Sauveur Parish of Bangui.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11xK4-brI1k
Francis in Central African Republic: Holy Mass and opening of the Holy Door 2015.11.29 
Scheduled for Nov 29, 2015
Holy Mass with Priests, Men and Women Religious, Catechists and young people gathered in the Cathedral of Bangui and opening of the Holy Door. At the end of the Mass, the Holy Father administrates the Sacrament of Reconciliation to some young people and participates in the Prayer Vigil in the esplanade in front of the Cathedral

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-arrives-in-the-central-african-republ

Pope Francis arrives in the Central African Republic
2015-11-29 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis arrived in the Central African Republic on the morning of Sunday 29th of November on the last leg of his Apostolic journey to Africa, his 11th abroad. A journey which marks his first to this continent and which has taken him to Kenya and Uganda.

In the Central African Republic’s capital Bangui, Pope Francis  will accomplish an historic gesture by opening the Holy Door of the cathedral in this city nine days before the inauguration of the Jubilee of Mercy on the 8th of December in the Vatican.

A symbolic gesture given the nation’s gruesome reality of ethnic and religious violence over the past two years which has pitted the majority Muslim Séléka forces against the majority Christian anti- Balaka forces. A situation which led to tens of thousands of people fleeing into neighbouring countries. And as brutal atrocities were reported on both sides the United Nations warned that there was high risk of the country descending into genocide.
 

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http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2015/pope-arrives-in-violence-torn-central-african-republic-preaching-peace.cfm

Pope arrives in violence-torn Central African Republic preaching peace
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service
11.29.2015 8:46 AM ET

CNS/Paul Haring
Pope Francis walks with Catherine Samba-Panza, transitional president of the Central African Republic, as they arrive for a meeting with leaders of the nation and members of the diplomatic corps in the presidential palace in Bangui Nov. 29. (CNS photo/Paul Haring) See POPE-BANGUI-UNITY Nov. 30, 2015

BANGUI, Central African Republic (CNS) -- Despite serious security concerns for Pope Francis and for those who would come to see him, the pope landed in Central African Republic Nov. 29 saying he came as "a pilgrim of peace."

"Unity in diversity is a constant challenge, one which demands creativity, generosity, self-sacrifice and respect for others," he said, visiting the country where political and ethnic rivalries also have split people along religious lines.

A brief airport arrival ceremony was held amid tight security provided by the Central Africans, France, the United Nations, U.N. peacekeepers, extra Vatican police and even some U.S. security officers dressed in dark suits.

Pope Francis and his entourage followed Catherine Samba-Panza, the country's interim president, in a convoy to the presidential palace about five miles away.

The highway was lined with tens of thousands of people, many of whom waved palm or other tree branches. In addition to armed forces doing crowd control, armored U.N. vehicles were parked at almost every intersection.
 
http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/full-text-pope-s-address-to-authorities-diplomatic-corps-in-bangui
FULL TEXT: Pope's Address to Authorities, Diplomatic Corps in Bangui
Bangui,  November 29, 2015

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http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-to-displaced-persons-peace-is-impossible-without-tolerance-forgiveness-66236/

Pope to displaced persons: peace is impossible without tolerance, forgiveness

Children at the Saint Sauveur refugee camp in Bangui, Central African Republic, welcome Pope Francis, Nov. 29, 2015. Credit: CTV.
Bangui, Central African Republic, Nov 29, 2015 / 08:12 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis’ first stop after arriving in the Central African Republic Sunday was to a refugee camp housing thousands of persons displaced by the country’s ongoing conflict.

Upon his arrival at the camp Nov. 29, the Pope  was greeted by children living there, who held up signs displaying words such as “peace,” “love,” “unity,” and “pardon.”

After greeting the children, Francis made his way through the camp before speaking briefly off-the-cuff to its inhabitants.

“I saw what the children have written (on the signs),” he said, explaining that “we must work and pray; do everything (possible) for peace.”

However,  he cautioned that  “peace without love, without friendship, without tolerance, without forgiveness, isn't possible. Each one of us must do something.”

The Pope then expressed his desire that all Central Africans would have “great peace among you … regardless of ethnicity, culture, religion, or social status.”

Located at the parish of St. Sauveur in Bangui, the camp is home to 1,000-2,000 people displaced by violence and conflict.
 
http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/full-text-pope-s-off-the-cuff-words-at-car-refugee-camp
FULL TEXT: Pope's Off-the-Cuff Words at CAR Refugee Camp
Bangui,  November 29, 2015

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-takes-medicine-to-childrens-hospital-in-bangu

Pope takes medicine to children's hospital in Bangui
2015-11-29 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Sunday made a brief, unscheduled stop at a children's hospital in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic.

The Pope met with some of the young patients and staff, taking with him several boxes of medicines for the children there, provided by Rome’s “Bambino Gesu” pediatric hospital.