CAIRO (SE): Pope Francis began his epic and much publicised visit to Egypt on April 28 by stressing that one of the prime obligations of a religious leader is to denounce violations of human rights and expose attempts to justify hatred in the name of God, in speaking to an International Peace Conference hosted by the seat of Islamic wisdom in Cairo, the Al-Azhar University.

Arguably the main event of his two-day visit, it was the first appointment on the agenda after a courtesy call to the president of the country, Abdel-Fattah Al Sisi.

CAIRO (SE): “With a joyful and grateful heart I will come in a few days’ time to visit your dear homeland: cradle of civilisation, gift of the Nile, land of sun and hospitality,” Pope Francis said to the people of Egypt prior to his arrival in Cairo on April 28.

He described it as a land where patriarchs and prophets lived and where God made his voice heard.

He added that he was coming as a friend, messenger of peace and a pilgrim to the country that more than 2,000 years ago gave refuge and hospitality to the Holy Family in its flight from King Herod.

PARIS (SE): In taking a couple of rather pointed digs at the two candidates for the run off of the presidential election in France, Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen, the Conference of the Bishops of France isolated respect for the weakest members of society, migration and loyalty as citizens of Europe as the three main principles that people should seek to protect in casting their vote on May 7.

VANCOUVER (SE): Pope Francis chalked up another first on April 27 when he appeared as the star of a TED Talk.

TED is a non-profit organisation dedicated to spreading ideas in the form of short talks. What began in 1984 as a conference covering Technology, Entertainment and Design (TED), today provides talks from all sorts of different speakers, but, up until now, except a pope.