Pope honors Mauritius diversity, urges ethnical development

PORT LOUIS, Mauritius (AP) — Pope Francis has arrived in the Indian Ocean nation of Mauritius to celebrate its diversity and honor a 19th century French missionary who ministered to freed slaves.
Thousands of Mauritians waved palm branches as Francis arrived Monday to celebrate a Mass honoring the Rev. Jacques-Desire Laval. While Catholics represent less than a third of Mauritius’ 1.3 million people, Laval is seen as a unifying figure for all Mauritians, most of whom are Hindu.
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