Mugabe invites pope to Africa to pray 'for the sinful world to repent'

20 March 2013 - 16:25 By Sapa-AP
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Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace (R) attend the inaugural mass of Pope Francis at the Vatican, March 19, 2013. Pope Francis celebrated his inaugural mass on Tuesday among political and religious leaders from around the world and amid a wave of hope for a renewal of the scandal-plagued Roman Catholic Church.
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace (R) attend the inaugural mass of Pope Francis at the Vatican, March 19, 2013. Pope Francis celebrated his inaugural mass on Tuesday among political and religious leaders from around the world and amid a wave of hope for a renewal of the scandal-plagued Roman Catholic Church.
Image: STEFANO RELLANDINI

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe says he wants Pope Francis to visit Africa because he is "a man of God who will be praying for all of us, praying for the sinful world to repent."

Mugabe attended the Pope's inaugural mass on Tuesday despite a ban on him travelling to most European countries to protest his human rights record and alleged vote rigging in violent elections.

Vatican City is not affected by the ban. Vatican officials said representatives of all world governments were welcome to come.

On his return from Rome, Mugabe urged reporters to go to church, lead a morally-guided life, avoid heavy drinking and write well without putting in "a twist like all journalists do for propaganda," the Zimbabwe Herald newspaper, a government mouthpiece, reported Wednesday.

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