'Hands off Africa,' Pope Francis tells rich world


People walk next to the billboard of Pope Francis a day ahead of his arrival in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo January 30, 2023. REUTERS/Luc Gnago

KINSHASA (Reuters) -Pope Francis denounced the "poison of greed" driving conflicts in Africa as he began a visit to Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday, saying the rich world had to realise that people were more precious than the minerals in the earth beneath them.

Many tens of thousands of people cheered as he travelled from the airport into the capital Kinshasa in his popemobile, with some breaking away to chase it while others chanted and waved flags.

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