Newly elected Pope Francis appears at the window of his
future private apartment to bless the faithful. REUTERS/Max
Rossi
Zimbabwe's long-ruling President Robert Mugabe will
attend the inauguration of Pope Francis in Rome this week, his
spokesman said.
The 89-year-old, who is a conservative Catholic, has been
subject to a European Union travel ban since 2002 following
allegations of election rigging and human rights abuses.
However, he is able to travel to the Vatican, which is
technically a state within a state and not part of the EU,
although any visitor must pass through Italian territory.
Pope Francis will be officially installed as the new leader
of the Roman Catholic Church on Tuesday, the Vatican said
last week. A papal inaugural mass is customarily attended by
heads of state and governments.
Mugabe, who has ruled the southern African country since
independence from Britain in 1980, was expected to leave for
Rome late on Sunday, a day after Zimbabweans voted in a
referendum expected to endorse a new constitution that would
curb presidential powers.
Mugabe last visited the Vatican in April 2011 when he joined
world dignitaries for the beatification of Pope John Paul.
He has staunchly opposed gay rights that he says are immoral
and not compatible with African cultural practices in
Zimbabwe.
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