Pope Francis has been scheduled to visit the southern African country of Mozambique which has been hit by Cyclone Idai for over two weeks.
The Vatican announced on Wednesday that the Pope will between September 4 and 10 visit Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius.
President of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, in a national address said his country invited Francis in 2018 and that the pontiff accepted “in principle, as long as his health allowed.”
John Paul II was the first pope to visit Mozambique 30 years ago. Nyusi said Francis’s visit would help the country continue on its path to peace and reconciliation after the civil war fought from 1977 to 1992.
The papal visit will come shortly before Mozambique holds general elections in October.
“The pope’s visit to our country encourages us to proceed with determination to overcome our everyday problems.
“We hope this visit acts as a moment of inspiration and encouragement in the Mozambicans’ struggle to…rebuild a prosperous, united and peaceful nation,” Nyusi said.
