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Pope’s Africa trip spotlights conflict, and church’s future

Pope Francis on a wheelchair is flanked by Congolese Prime Minister Sama Lukonde, center right, as he arrives in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023 to start his six-day pastoral visit to Congo and South Sudan where he'll bring a message of peace to countries riven by poverty and conflict. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Francis on a wheelchair talks to Congolese Prime Minister Sama Lukonde, center right, as he arrives in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023 to start his six-day pastoral visit to Congo and South Sudan where he'll bring a message of peace to countries riven by poverty and conflict. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Francis on a wheelchair talks to Congolese Prime Minister Sama Lukonde, center right, as he arrives in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023 to start his six-day pastoral visit to Congo and South Sudan where he'll bring a message of peace to countries riven by poverty and conflict. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Francis on a wheelchair talks to Congolese Prime Minister Sama Lukonde, center right, as he arrives in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023 to start his six-day pastoral visit to Congo and South Sudan where he'll bring a message of peace to countries riven by poverty and conflict. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Francis boards his flight at Rome's Leonardo Da Vinci International airport in Fiumicino, Italy, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023. Pope Francis opened a six-day visit to Congo and South Sudan on Tuesday, aiming to bring a message of peace to two countries riven by poverty, conflict and what Francis has called a lingering "colonialist mentality" that still considers Africa ripe for exploitation. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Francis arrives at Rome's Leonardo Da Vinci International airport in Fiumicino, Italy, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023. Pope Francis opened a six-day visit to Congo and South Sudan on Tuesday, aiming to bring a message of peace to two countries riven by poverty, conflict and what Francis has called a lingering "colonialist mentality" that still considers Africa ripe for exploitation. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Francis is on a elevator as he boards his flight at Rome's Leonardo Da Vinci International airport in Fiumicino, Italy, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023. Pope Francis opened a six-day visit to Congo and South Sudan on Tuesday, aiming to bring a message of peace to two countries riven by poverty, conflict and what Francis has called a lingering "colonialist mentality" that still considers Africa ripe for exploitation. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Francis boards his flight at Rome's Leonardo Da Vinci International airport in Fiumicino, Italy, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023. Pope Francis opened a six-day visit to Congo and South Sudan on Tuesday, aiming to bring a message of peace to two countries riven by poverty, conflict and what Francis has called a lingering "colonialist mentality" that still considers Africa ripe for exploitation. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Francis arrives at Rome's Leonardo Da Vinci International airport in Fiumicino, Italy, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023. Pope Francis opened a six-day visit to Congo and South Sudan on Tuesday, aiming to bring a message of peace to two countries riven by poverty, conflict and what Francis has called a lingering "colonialist mentality" that still considers Africa ripe for exploitation. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Marie Louise Wambale looks at a photograph of Pope Francis on her telephone in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Saturday Jan. 21, 2023. Like most Catholics here in eastern Congo, she hopes that Pope Francis can bring a message of hope at a time when the M23 rebels are posing their greatest threat since 2012. Pope Francis will be in Congo and South Sudan for a six-day trip starting Jan, 31 2023. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)

Marie Louise Wambale prays during church service in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sunday Jan. 22, 2023. Like most Catholics here in eastern Congo, she hopes that Pope Francis can bring a message of hope at a time when the M23 rebels are posing their greatest threat since 2012. Pope Francis will be in Congo and South Sudan for a six-day trip starting Jan, 31 2023. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)

Security personnel takes position near the Cathedral Notre Dame du Congo in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sunday Jan. 29, 2023. Pope Francis will be in Congo and South Sudan for a six-day trip starting Jan, 31, hoping to bring comfort and encouragement to two countries that have been riven by poverty, conflicts and what he calls a "colonialist mentality" that has exploited Africa for centuries. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

People pray during service in the courtyard of the Cathedral Notre Dame du Congo in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sunday Jan. 29, 2023. The cathedral is being prepared for Pope Francis' visit to Congo and South Sudan for a six-day trip starting Jan, 31, hoping to bring comfort and encouragement to two countries that have been riven by poverty, conflicts and what he calls a "colonialist mentality" that has exploited Africa for centuries. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

A woman prays outside the Cathedral Notre Dame du Congo in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo Saturday Jan. 28, 2023. Pope Francis will be in Congo and South Sudan for a six-day trip starting Jan, 31, hoping to bring comfort and encouragement to two countries that have been riven by poverty, conflicts and what he calls a "colonialist mentality" that has exploited Africa for centuries. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Morning service concludes in the annex of the Cathedral Notre Dame du Congo in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sunday Jan. 29, 2023. The cathedral is being prepared for Pope Francis' visit to Congo and South Sudan for a six-day trip starting Jan, 31, hoping to bring comfort and encouragement to two countries that have been riven by poverty, conflicts and what he calls a "colonialist mentality" that has exploited Africa for centuries. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

People walk outside the Cathedral Notre Dame du Congo in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo Saturday Jan. 28, 2023. Pope Francis will be in Congo and South Sudan for a six-day trip starting Jan, 31, hoping to bring comfort and encouragement to two countries that have been riven by poverty, conflicts and what he calls a "colonialist mentality" that has exploited Africa for centuries. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

A young man sells calendars featuring Pope Francis outside the Cathedral Notre Dame du Congo in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sunday Jan. 29, 2023. Pope Francis will be in Congo and South Sudan for a six-day trip starting Jan, 31, hoping to bring comfort and encouragement to two countries that have been riven by poverty, conflicts and what he calls a "colonialist mentality" that has exploited Africa for centuries. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Merchants sell goods outside the Cathedral Notre Dame du Congo in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sunday Jan. 29, 2023. Pope Francis will be in Congo and South Sudan for a six-day trip starting Jan, 31, hoping to bring comfort and encouragement to two countries that have been riven by poverty, conflicts and what he calls a "colonialist mentality" that has exploited Africa for centuries. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Construction workers lay concrete outside the Cathedral Notre Dame du Congo in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo Saturday Jan. 28, 2023. Pope Francis will be in Congo and South Sudan for a six-day trip starting Jan, 31, hoping to bring comfort and encouragement to two countries that have been riven by poverty, conflicts and what he calls a "colonialist mentality" that has exploited Africa for centuries. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Pope’s Africa trip spotlights conflict, and church’s future