VATICAN CITY — Cardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, called Pope Francis’ late-November voyage to Africa a “prophetically important” gesture in a country “still shaken by unprecedented violence and in the heart of a continent suffering from so many wars.”

Peace and reconciliation in the midst of war, safeguarding the creation in the face of environmental degradation and serving the common good as an antidote to corruption were key themes of Pope Francis’ six-day visit to Africa that ended Nov. 30.

The Holy Father’s first visit to the continent, which comprised visiting Kenya, Uganda and Central African Republic (CAR), also included opening a holy door in CAR’s war-torn capital of Bangui, marking a striking early start to the Year of Mercy that began in the Church worldwide on Dec. 8.

The first leg of the Pope’s visit began Nov. 25 in Nairobi, Kenya, where the Holy Father told civil leaders and members of the diplomatic corps of the “grave environmental crisis” facing the world, called for the promotion of “responsible models of economic development” and warned that conflict and terrorism “feed on fear, mistrust and the despair born of poverty and frustration.”

In the face of corruption, he also called on those present to “work with integrity and transparency for the common good” and show “genuine concern for the needs of the poor [and] the aspirations of the young.”

In a meeting with ecumenical and interreligious leaders Nov. 26, the Pope elaborated on the issue of terrorism, as Al-Shabab militants have been entering Kenya from Somalia and committing atrocities. Observing that “all too often” young people are “being radicalized” in the name of religion to sow “discord and fear and tear at the very fabric” of society, he stressed how important it is “that we be seen as prophets of peace.” He called on God to “touch the hearts” of those perpetrating the violence.

The Pope called on the faithful at an open-air Mass to “resist practices which foster arrogance in men, hurt or demean women and threaten the lives of the most innocent unborn.” In comments to priests and religious, he spoke of the importance of weeping for “our infidelity” and for all the “pain in our world,” saying he didn’t have an answer but that they should “look to Jesus on the cross.”

“Never stray from Jesus,” the Pope said in extemporaneous remarks. “In other words, never stop praying.” Once consecrated people stop doing so, he said, “their souls wither; they grow ugly, like dried figs. Ugly: The soul of a man or woman religious or a priest who doesn’t pray is an ugly soul! I’m sorry, but that’s the way it is.” The Pope also stressed the importance of service and made a point of expressing his gratitude for theirs. “I thank you for your courage in following Jesus,” he said.

In a lengthy speech at the United Nations’ office in Nairobi, the Pope said it would be “sad” and “catastrophic” if the conference failed in its goals. On the plane back to Rome, he went further, saying the world is “on the verge of suicide,” but he said he trusted the delegates “would do something” to combat climate change.

The COP21 Paris conference on climate change that began Nov. 30 was an “important stage” in developing new, clean energy, the Pope told the U.N. officers. He said “lessening the impact of climate change, fighting poverty and ensuring respect for human dignity” were his three main hopes for the conference. He also addressed the scourges of urbanization, human slavery and trafficking, extreme poverty and exclusion, as well as the illegal trade of precious stones and metals and the killing of elephants that “fuels political instability, organized crime and terrorism.”

While in Nairobi, the Pope also visited the Jesuit-run Kangemi parish, one of the country’s largest slums, in which he said the depth of suffering found in such areas is “not a random combination of unrelated problems,” but the “consequence of new forms of colonialism.” He called for “respectful urban integration” and that all Christians, and their pastors in particular, “renew their missionary zeal” and “take initiative in the face of so many situations of injustice.”

At a meeting with young people, he warned against tribalism, which “destroys a nation,” and urged them to “dialogue and listen to one another,” or tribal fighting will always be “eating away at society like woodworms.” He also railed against corruption, comparing it to something sweet that creeps in like sugar. “We like it; it goes down easily. And then? We get sick! We come to a nasty end! With all that easy sugar, we end up as diabetics, and our country becomes diabetic!”

He also spoke about the need for education and employment, protection and defense of the family, as well as the need to “look to the cross” with hope rather than despair at the world “tumbling down all around you.”

The Pope flew to Kampala, Uganda, Nov. 27, where he recalled the 50th anniversary last year of the canonization of the Catholic and Anglican Ugandan Martyrs who, he said, “are true national heroes.” He praised Africa as “the continent of hope” and Uganda for its “outstanding concern for welcoming refugees.”

He told catechists and teachers to “persevere” in their “holy work” and called on bishops and priests to support them “with a doctrinal, spiritual and pastoral formation” to make them more effective. The Ugandan Martyrs testified to the truth of the Church’s teaching, the Pope said, and were willing to shed their blood to witness to the “good, beautiful and true.”

“The witness of the martyrs shows to all who have heard their story, then and now, that worldly pleasures and earthly power do not bring lasting joy or peace,” the Pope said at a Mass at the martyrs’ shrine in Namugongo. “Rather, fidelity to God, honesty and integrity of life and genuine concern for the good of others bring us that peace which the world cannot give.”

Dependence on God in overcoming the world was another topic of the Pope’s speech, this time to Ugandan youth. The Pope told them Nov. 28 that life presents many “dirty puddles,” but God is there to “take our hand, if only we call on him.” It is “only when we are small and humble” like a little child “that we are not afraid to call out to our Father,” he said. And one puddle that needs facing is the fear to be different, going against the grain of society. He asked what the Ugandan Martyrs would make of the corruptions of society, whether they be distorted views of sexuality or of human dignity.

Despite widespread security concerns, the Pope’s apostolic voyage to Bangui, CAR’s capital, Nov. 29-30 passed without incident. He underlined the role of the Church in promoting the common good by working for peace and reconciliation. At a meeting with evangelicals, he spoke of solidarity with a CAR pastor whose home had been destroyed, noting that the tragic incident offered an opportunity for “shared suffering and shared mission.”

The Pope told clergy that the “essential characteristics” toward perfection of a consecrated vocation are “love of our enemies” and bearing witness to God’s love in places of violence. To young people after opening the holy door for the Year of Mercy, he underlined the importance of forgiveness, saying God gives us the “strength and courage” to become “artisans of reconciliation and peace” and urged them to be “attentive to the needs of others.”

Particularly memorable was the Pope’s visit to Bangui’s Central Mosque of Koudoukou in one of the city’s most violent districts.

“Those who claim to believe in God must also be men and women of peace,” the Pope told those present. “Together, we must say No to hatred, No to revenge and No to violence, particularly that violence which is perpetrated in the name of a religion or of God himself. God is peace, God [is] salaam.”

Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said a mosque imam was “jumping for joy” and was “absolutely thrilled” about the visit, saying to him: “You are terrific! You are great! The Pope did exactly what needed to be done. ... We are all extremely grateful.” 

Father Lombardi said an image that particularly struck him was seeing an imam ride with the Pope in the popemobile, a gesture that sent “a very strong message” of interreligious unity.

Overall, the Vatican spokesman said the main purpose of the Pope’s visit to Africa was to show his concern for “a continent and those countries that suffer from different aspects of poverty, disease, marginalization and difficulty in finding their way in the future with full human dignity.”