During his sojourn in Madagascar on Sept. 8, Pope Francis will drive six miles from the center of Antananarivo, the capital city of this country of 27 million people, to visit the cooperative association Akamasoa.

He praised “the efforts made in recent decades to ensure that peace is once more the norm and reconciliation the best path to confront the difficulties and challenges that you face as a nation.”

Pope Francis visited the African Republics of Mozambique, Madagascar, and Mauritius between Sept. 4 and Sept. 10.

Pope Francis' week-long trip to Africa commenced with huge crowds, dancing, and honors as he landed in Mozambique as evening descended upon Maputo, the country's capital.

When Pope Francis arrives in Mozambique on Sept. 4 he is going to a country that he already knows much about from his time as archbishop of Buenos Aires, the Rev. Juan Gabriel Arias, 50, told America on the eve of the papal visit.

Pope Francis returns to sub-Saharan Africa for the second time on Sept. 4 to Sept. 10 to visit the Republics of Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius.