Pope Francis has left Italy for Africa where he will visit Kenya, Uganda, and the Central African Republic.

He will address the continent's fast-growing Catholic congregation during a trip that will test his ability to bridge fault lines between Christians and Muslims.

Both Kenya and Uganda have seen Islamist militant attacks. The Central African Republic has been torn by Muslim-Christian strife.

Millions of Christians - Catholics and others - are expected to turn out in welcome and for public celebrations of Mass, presenting a challenge for national security forces to keep the pontiff safe and control the huge crowds.

Africa's Catholic church is growing fast with an estimated 200 million adherents in 2012, a figure expected to reach half a billion in 2050.

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