What does a Pope do before leaving for Africa: Pray!

Pope Prays at Santa Maria Maggiore Before Departing for Africa

This Marks Francis' 27th Time Traveling to Rome's Marian Basilica to Pray for Mary's Protection

    

Vatican City, November 25, 2015 (ZENIT.org) Deborah Castellano Lubov              

 

Last evening, Pope Francis traveled to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore to pray for the success of his trip to Africa this morning. This visit marked the Holy Father's 27th visit to the Marian Basilica to pray for Mary's protection and intercession.
According to Vatican Radio, the Pope prayed before the ancient image of Mary, Salus Populi Romani, and invoked the Virgin Mary's  protection on his travels and upon the people he will visit in Kenya, Uganda and the Central African Republic.
The Holy Father's most recent visit to the Marian Basilica was on September 28, 2015, upon return from his first Apostolic Visit to Cuba and the United States of America.
This morning, Pope Francis, his papal entourage, and journalists boarded the Alitalia plane at about 8 a.m. local time at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport and departed shortly thereafter.
The papal flight is scheduled to arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya, this afternoon at 3:00 p.m. Rome time for the beginning of his first Apostolic Visit to Africa, Nov. 25-30, where he will visit the capitals of Kenya, Uganda, and Central African Republic.