Pope Visits Kenya On Three-Nation Africa Tour; To Meet Slum People In Nairobi Too

Pope Francis lands in Kenyan capital Nairobi Wednesday in his three-nation, five-day Africa tour to bring message of hope and peace to the growing Catholic population.

The second stop will be Uganda and thereafter the Central African Republic, which is a lawless conflict zone for past two years after the Christian president was overthrown by Muslim rebel group.

Catholic believer in thousands are expected to line the streets of Nairobi to welcome the pope, who is expected to spend time with people living in the large Kangemi slum located on the outskirts of the city in a small valley with slopes rolling down to Nairobi River.

Africa accounts for 14 percent of the 1.2 billion Catholic populations across the world. It is estimated the figure may reach up to 30 percent by 2050.

In 2010 Kenya had a Catholic population of 9 million, about a quarter of the total population, Uganda had half of its population to about 14 million, and the Central African Republic had about 1.3 million Catholics.