Pope holds Mass for 1 Million people in Madagascar

A huge crowd gathered in Madagascar today to hear Pope Francis speak. “Organizers estimate it’s about a million people,” says a spokesman for the Vatican.

Many people had spent the night in a field near the capital Antananarivo. They shouted as the pope’s mobile drove past with the church prince. This is the first papal visit to the African country, where about 25 million people live, in nearly 30 years.

29-year-old Rado Niaina said he left at 2 a.m. He was afraid he could no longer find a place. Other people had already set up tents on Friday.

Prospere Ralitason (70) arrived in the company of thousands of other believers from Ambatondrazaka, some 200 kilometers away. “We are tired, but these sacrifices are worth seeing the pope with our own eyes and receiving his blessing,” the man said.

Francis recently visited Mozambique and is going to Mauritius on Monday.

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©REUTERS – Priester Pedro Opeka, Madagaskars president Andry Rajoelina en zijn vrouw Mialy tekenden eveneens present.
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epa07827382 Pope Francis (C) arrives to lead the Holy Mass on the diocesan grounds of Soamandrakizay in Antananarivo, Madagascar, 08 September 2019. Pope Francis will visit Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius on his three-nation trip to Africa, from 04 to 10 September 2019. EPA/LUCA ZENNARO
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