Pope Francis concluded his three-leg Apostolic Visit to Mozambique, Madagascar, and Mauritius on Tuesday morning. He is scheduled to touch down in Rome at about 7pm.

The Air Madagascar Airbus plane that is bringing Pope Francis back to the Vatican at the end of his 31st Apostolic Journey abroad has taken off from Antananarivo International Airport.

As is customary, the Pope’s outbound flight is always by Italy’s national airline Alitalia, while the national airline of the country he is leaving is the one to bring him back home…

Pope Francis wrapped up his two-day Apostolic Visit to Madagascar on Sunday evening at Antananarivo’s Saint Michel College, an institute founded by French Jesuit missionaries in 1888 and that has become a well-known center for higher education throughout the region.  

The Pope’s message to the men and women gathered in Antananarivo to be with their pastor, was one of thanks for their hard work – often carried out in difficult situations – and of encouragement in times of difficulty…

In a country overcoming decades of conflict, Pope Francis on Friday 6 Sep, told some 40,000 people that they have the right to peace, but that they have to build their country on forgiveness and not “plotting opportunities for retaliation.”

Francis also noted that Mozambique is a land of abundant natural and cultural riches, yet great numbers of its people live below the poverty line…

Going to Disney World is on the top of many children’s dream lists. So when Jermaine Bell from South Carolina turned down the opportunity to go to the magical destination for his seventh birthday in order to put the money towards helping those who had to  flee their homes because of Hurricane Dorian, we couldn’t help but be impressed with his generosity…

Making the rounds greeting the journalists on board the papal flight is always an occasion for Pope Francis to express his esteem and friendship, as well as granting responses which, even if informal, make the news.

A mishap worth a laugh. The news that the Pope remained stuck in the elevator this past Sunday has made news around the world…