Pope Francis is embarking on a three-nation tour to sourn Africa with a strategic visit first to Mozambique on September 4. Less than four weeks after country’s ruling party and armed Opposition signed a new peace deal and weeks before national elections. Thirty years after St. John Paul II begged Mozambicans to end ir civil war, Pope Francis is expected to endorse new August 1 Accord and urge its full implementation, when he meets with government authorities on Thursday.

Pope will arrive in Mozambique on Wednesday and although this is  first time be spending a full day in region,  public events have been scheduled after a brief welcome ceremony at airport. timing of visit is t coincidental, coming just weeks after signing of Accord between ruling Frelimo Party and armed Frenamo Opposition and before national elections on October 15.

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People: Pope's visit will result in positive influence

vote is considered crucial because a new constitutional amendment has decentralized power so that provincial Goverrs will w be elected directly, rar than appointed by Central government. Mozambique’s 15-year civil war, which ended with a 1992 peace deal, killed an estimated 1 million people and devastated former Portuguese colony. permanent ceasefire signed on August 1, was culmination of years of negotiations to end fighting that has flared sporically in last 27 years. In central Mozambique, Gorongosa National Park warden Pedro Muagura said re are hopes that Pope’s visit will strengn deal. “In general, people are very, very optimistic that Pope will be a good influence for peace and good elections,” said Muagura. “In 1992, our peace agreement was signed after Pope’s visit,” he said, referring to John Paul’s historic 1988 trip. “w re are same expectations that this pope will bring a positive influence, reconciliation between all Mozambicans. Those are hopes of so many people here.”

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Pope expected to raise concerns over environmental issues

Francis will also reach out to Mozambicans affected by back-to-back cyclones that ripped into country earlier this year, leaving more than 650 people de and destroying vast swaths of crops on eve of harvest. unprecedented storms laid bare impact of climate change on countries like Mozambique, which with its 2,400-kilometer (1,500-mile) coastline is one of world’s most vulnerable to rising sea levels, warming waters and unpredictable storms blamed on global warming. Francis has me environmental concerns a pillar of his papacy, linking Global Warming to persistent exploitation of world’s poor by wealthy. He is likely to raise those concerns in Mozambique, as well as on second leg of his trip to Magascar, where deforestation is threatening ecosystems and wildlife that are unique to Indian Ocean island nation. Francis will also make a day-long stop in Mauritius before returning to Rome, on September 10.

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