Religion: An Imposing Messenger from Rome

A touring Pope defines his policy and falls under the spell of Africa's exuberance

He said his Masses in traditional Latin. He delivered his weighty policy pronouncements in badly accented French to huge but quiet audiences. With a pontifical smile, he watched spectacular, sun-drenched displays of faith and affection. But not till the fourth day of his dramatic pilgrimage across the continent did the irrepressible exuberance of Africa really get to Pope John Paul II.

It happened 1,250 miles upriver from the sea, at Kisangani, a Zairean city surrounded by one of the world's...

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