Pope John Paul II visits Africa

Date: 2 May 1980
Updated: 23 Aug 2019

Pope John Paul II began his first tour of Africa, including visits to Zaire (presently known as the Democratic Republic of Congo), Congo, Kenya, Ghana, Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso ) and the Ivory Coast. He started his tour in Zaire, where Roman Catholicism had recently been suppressed. During his visit he again established himself as a strong defender of human rights, workers rights and religious freedom. He called for the creation of a new world economic order and a guarantee of workers rights. The Pope believed in speaking on behalf of those who did not have a voice, in this case the Africans. Source: http://africanhistory.about.com/library/thisday/bl-ThisDay0502.htm

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South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Pope John Paul II visits Africa. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012419

South African History Online (2011) 'Pope John Paul II visits Africa', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012419 (Accessed: 29 July 2026).

South African History Online, Pope John Paul II visits Africa [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012419, (accessed 29 July 2026).

"Pope John Paul II visits Africa." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012419. Accessed 29 July 2026.

South African History Online. "Pope John Paul II visits Africa." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012419.