the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops' Conference also thanked 93-year-old Mugabe for "the good work he did for Zimbabwe during the liberation struggle" against white rule and as president.

"We know that it is the biggest support they can get, the involvement of the church and Pope Francis."

On university campuses in Nigeria, the competition for souls can be fierce.

Mugabe's policies are widely blamed for Zimbabwe's economic decline over the past two decades. Millions of economic refugees have left the country, with most going to South Africa.

Pope Francis formally recognized the martyrdom of an Italian Consolata sister murdered in Somalia in 2006 and the martyrdom of a 25-year-old priest in Hungary in 1957.

Last week Kenyans went back to the voting polls after the Supreme Court annulled elections in August.