PORT LOUIS (Mauritius): Pope Francis arrived in Mauritius yesterday on the final stop of a three-nation Africa tour where he is expected to celebrate the diversity and tolerance of one of the continent’s richest, most stable nations.
Thousands of faithful gathered in the capital Port-Louis, some before dawn, waiting for the Argentine pontiff to address the small Indian Ocean island, a melting pot of religions and ethnic groups.
The pope will celebrate mass at the Mary Queen of Peace Monument, the same hillside location where John Paul II celebrated the eucharist during the last papal visit to Mauritius in 1989.
“More than 3,500 of us came from Reunion” island — about 175 kilometres — from Mauritius, said Josette, who is among those awaiting the pope.
Giant screens have been put up in Port Louis to allow devotees to watch the papal mass, and billboards adorned with Francis’ image have sprung up across the coastal city.
“It is very important for us to meet the pope. It is an occasion,” said Genevieve, 47, from Mauritius.
Mauritius comprises four volcanic islands and lies roughly 1,800 kilometres off the eastern coast of Africa.
The population of 1.3 million is predominantly Hindu but has sizeable Christian and Muslim minorities.
About 30 percent of Mauritius is Christian, with most being Catholic.
The island nation was briefly colonised by the Dutch, French and the British and since independence in 1968, has developed from a poor, agriculture-based economy, to one of Africa’s wealthiest nations.
It is best known for its position as a global tax haven and idyllic tourist beach destination. The pope is on the last stop of his tour which has taken him to Mozambique and Madagascar. Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth said the Pope would encounter a “true model of pluralism”
during his visit.
“Our cultural diversity has never prevented us from creating an environment conducive to dialogue, understanding and peace,” he said. – AFP
