POPE ON CRISES AND SUFFERINGS WHICH MARK AFRICAN CONTINENT

VATICAN CITY, JUN 29, 1999 (VIS) - In post-angelus reflections this morning, John Paul II spoke of the "numerous situations of crisis and suffering which mark the African continent," and asked for prayers especially for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and for Rwanda.

To the peoples of the Congo, "especially the Catholic community," he said: "I wish to express a thought of spiritual closeness and encouragement, exhorting them to face together the difficulties of the present and the challenges of the future." Turning to Rwanda, he said "my solidarity goes, in particular, to the Church in Rwanda, harshly tried, even by having one of its pastors detained."

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