Pope Francis begins African trip by urging Kenyans to work for peace

Pope Francis is urging Kenyans to work for peace, forgiveness and a more just distribution of the country's enormous resources as he begins his first-ever visit to Africa.

Francis was received upon arrival Wednesday at Nairobi's airport by President Uhuru Kenyatta on the first leg of a six-day pilgrimage that will also take him to Uganda and the Central African Republic, a country torn by fighting between Christians and Muslims.

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In his opening speech to Kenyatta and the country's diplomatic corps at Nairobi's State House, Francis urged all Kenyans to work for peace and forgiveness in order to heal ethnic, religious and economic divisions.

He said: "Experience shows that violence, conflict and terrorism feed on fear, mistrust and the despair born of poverty and frustration."