kwanza river

Pope Leo Visits Angolan Shrine at Site of Former Slave Trade Hub

Pope Leo visited the Sanctuary of Mama Muxima in Angola, a site that served as a major hub in the slave trade during Portuguese colonial rule. The American pope recalled the "sorrow and great suffering" Angolans endured for centuries, addressing an estimated 30,000 gathered faithful. The church, built at the end of the 16th century as part of a fortress complex, was where enslaved Africans were baptized before being forced to walk over 110km to the port of Luanda for shipment to the Americas. He did not refer specifically to slavery in his remarks.