On a walking safari in Zambia, a writer traded animal locator apps and spine-jostling game drives for a slow and sensuous experience in which the lore and nuances of the landscape came to the fore.

The first pope to visit Africa in almost four decades began in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the struggles of daily life are the very problems Francis has sought to highlight.

The Central African country is wracked by war, poverty and environmental plunder — and it may be the future of the Catholic Church.

The pope is planning to spend three days in the Democratic Republic of Congo, one of the most populous and most Catholic nations in Africa. While it has extensive natural riches, its people have long been buffeted by conflict and exploitation.

The move came as part of cost-cutting measures under which the news service is also ending its radio programming in 10 other languages, including Persian, Chinese and Hindi.