RABAT: Pope Francis called on Sunday (Mar 31) for tolerance and peace at a mass for thousands of Catholics during a rare visit by a pontiff to Morocco, after warning the faithful there against trying to convert others. Waiting for the pope outside, a Nigerian man said the visit "shows that living together is possible in Morocco". But "there are things to improve, notably the question of migrants and that of Moroccan Christians", said 36-year-old Antoine, who works for an association to defend migrant rights. On Saturday he visited migrants at a Caritas charity centre, where the pope criticised "collective expulsions" and said ways for migrants to regularise their status should be encouraged. JERUSALEM DECLARATIONEarlier on Sunday, Francis visited a social centre run by nuns and volunteers near Rabat, including a health centre where he met with unwell children.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 31, 2019 17:37 UTC