ANTANANARIVO, Sept 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — True to his reputation as “pope of the poor”, Pope Francis starts a visit on Saturday to Madagascar, one of the world’s most impoverished nations.
Arriving from Mozambique, where he pleaded for understanding and the renunciation of violence in a country riven by 16 years of civil war and now hit by jihadist attacks, the Argentine pontiff’s first port of call on Saturday was to be a mass and prayer vigil with at least 12,000 young scouts.
More than half of young people on the world’s fifth-largest island are out of work, even if many boast good qualifications.
In a population of 25 million, nine out of ten people live on less than $2 a day.
Political instability has done nothing to help the development of an economy largely dependent on agriculture, and the export of vanilla and cocoa in particular.
Pres Andry Rajoelina, elected to a second term last year mainly on promises of jobs and housing, will meet for one-on-one talks with Francis early Saturday.
Sunday will mark the high point of Francis’ visit with a huge mass in the capital expected to be attended by some 800,000 pilgrims.
Many had already started setting up tents on the outskirts of the city on Friday, armed with posters of the Argentine pontiff.
Prospere Ralitason, a 70-year-old farm worker, arrived with some 5,000 fellow pilgrims from the central eastern town of Ambatondrazaka, 200 kilometres away.
The last pope to visit was John Paul II 30 years ago.
Some 700 police officers will be deployed at the site, which is also equipped with 200 surveillance cameras and the 12,000 young scouts will also help out.
In June, 16 people were killed and dozens hurt in a stampede outside a sports stadium in the capital during a free concert.
The previous year, one person died and 41 were injured in a crush during an African Cup of Nations qualifier.
