‘Hands off Africa!’: Pope blasts foreign plundering of Congo

By NICOLE WINFIELD, JEAN-YVES KAMALE and CHRISTINA MALKIA
Associated Press

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Pope Francis is demanding that foreign powers stop plundering Africa’s natural resources. He plunged head first into his agenda upon arrival on Tuesday in Congo. The pontiff was greeted with a raucous welcome by Congolese who were grateful he was focusing the world’s attention on their forgotten plight. Tens of thousands of Congolese lined the main road into Kinshasa to welcome Francis after he landed at the airport. He said in a speech to government authorities to keep their hands off the Democratic Republic of the Congo and “hands off Africa!”