Pope Francis begins peace pilgrimage to 3 African countries

Pope Francis waves to journalists as he boards his airplane on the occasion of his trip to Africa, at Rome’s Fiumicino International Airport, Nov. 25. The Pope is leaving for a trip that will take him to Kenya, Uganda and the Central African Republic, from Nov. 25-30. AP

ROME—Pope Francis has begun a pilgrimage to three African nations.

The Alitalia jetliner with the Pope and his entourage aboard departed at about 8 a.m. (3 p.m. in Manila) on Wednesday from Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci airport, bound for the first stop in Kenya.

Francis is also scheduled to visit Uganda and Central African Republic before he is due back in Rome on Nov. 30.

Francis has described himself as a messenger of peace to a continent scarred by conflicts and extremist attacks, including against a growing Christian flock there.