Mozambique has begun preparations for the expected visit by Pope Francis in September this year, Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister José Pacheco announced on Friday.
Pacheco said the Mozambican authorities have started discussions regarding security measures and other logistical arrangements that need to be in place ahead of the Pontiff’s visit to the country in four months’ time.
Speaking after Vatican ambassador to Mozambique, Piergiorgio Bertoldi, met President Filipe Nyusi in Maputo, Pacheco said the Pope’s visit was expected to strengthen cooperation between Maputo and the Holy See.
Pope Francis is expected to visit Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius, three countries where there is a combination of strong Christian and indigenous beliefs.
This will be will be the pontiff’s fourth visit to Africa, after having visited Uganda, Kenya and Central African Republic in 2015 as well as Egypt in 2017 and Morocco in March this year.
CM/jn/APA