"The real thing is that at this moment China and (the) pope have a very good relation," said Argentine Bishop Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo, chancellor of the pontifical academies of Sciences and of Social Sciences.

The pope led pilgrims in praying a Hail Mary for the victims of the attacks at St. Philip's Catholic Church in Ozubulu, Nigeria and at a mission in Gambo, Central African Republic.

In the weeks before Kenya's election on Aug. 8, ethnic tensions ran high, prompting religious leaders—Christian and Muslim—to preach for peace.

God did not choose perfect people to form his church, but rather sinners who have experienced his love and forgiveness, Pope Francis said.

Salvadorans plan to walk more than 90 miles in three days to mark the centennial of Blessed Oscar Romero's birth.

Senior Catholic sources told ucanews.com that Pope Francis would arrive in Myanmar Nov. 27 for four nights.