Black Catholics tell pope it takes more than words to tackle racist legacy

A group of people shows posters in front of the Parque Tejo stage for the XXXVII World Youth Day, in Lisbon, Portugal August 5, 2023. REUTERS/Pedro Nunes

LISBON (Reuters) - Some Black worshippers feel under-represented in the Catholic Church and that it needs to do more to overcome its legacy of racism, they said, after Pope Francis spent recent days telling crowds in Lisbon the Church has room for everyone.

Francis, who has been working to promote inclusivity since the start of his papacy, arrived on Aug. 2 in Lisbon to attend the world's largest gathering of young Catholics from Aug. 1-6.