Pope Francis 'more afraid of mosquitoes than people'

Nairobi, Nov 26: Pope Francis claims he fears mosquitoes more than people and laughs off security fears surrounding his trip to three African countries in the wake of recent terror attacks in France and Mali.

"To tell you the truth, the only thing I'm concerned about is the mosquitoes. Did you bring your spray," he asked journalists on Wednesday in Kenyan capital Nairobi who asked if he was concerned about security risks.

The Pope and his entourage will spend the third and final leg of the visit in the CAR, amid acute concerns for his safety and that of civilians and UN peacekeepers, and where Francis is due to arrive on Sunday from Uganda.

Francis will be the first Pope to fly into a war-zone, where Christian and Muslim militias have been battling for months, and where he is scheduled to visit a mosque in one of the most dangerous districts of the capital, Bangui.

IANS