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

Pope Francis arrives in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (Gregorio Borgia/AP)

Pope Francis has begun a six-day visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan, 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.

He landed at Kinshasa’s airport and was greeted by tens of thousands of Congolese who lined the main road into the city, some standing three or four deep, with children in school uniforms taking the front row.