ICC Note: Pope Francis has maintained a strong voice for the persecuted Church. Now that his three-nation tour of Africa has begun, will he address Christian persecution as he visits the continent most racked by such violence towards believers. While he’s there, Kenya has declared Thursday a national holiday to accommodate his visit, but a Kenyan atheist group challenges the institution citing separation of church and state. He also plans to visit Uganda and Central African Republic.

11/25/15 Nairobi, Kenya (Christian Today) – Yesterday evening, Pope Francis prayed at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore for the success of his trip to Africa, which begins today. He has a particular attachment to the church – this visit is his 27th since the beginning of his papacy.

Francis will be glad to leave behind the “Vatileaks” row that has seen journalists and officials put on trial for releasing information about a dysfunctional Vatican rife with financial mismanagement. However, the problems – and the opportunities – of the continent to which he is travelling are enough to put such local difficulties entirely in the shade.

The tour starts in Kenya and Uganda, which have both seen Islamist militant attacks, before he travels to the Central African Republic, a nation torn by Muslim-Christian strife. He will land in Nairobi this afternoon.

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