Pope Francis Arrives for First-Ever Trip to Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya— -- As Pope Francis arrives in Africa, shortly after a rash of terrorist attacks in Beirut, Paris and Bamako, there is huge concern for his safety.

So, what is His Holiness worried about?

“I’m scared of the mosquitoes,” he told reporters traveling with him on the papal plane, cracking a big smile.

Francis arrived here in Nairobi on Tuesday, kicking off a 5-day trip to Africa, his first visit to the African continent. He’ll visit Kenya, Uganda and the Central African Republic before returning to Rome next Monday.

All three countries have seen more than their share of violence.

In Kenya, Islamist militants have staged violent attacks on shopping malls and embassies in recent years.

In Uganda, the self-proclaimed Lord’s Resistance Army has terrorized the population.

The Central African Republic is embroiled in a bloody civil war, with Christian rebels fighting a Muslim government. Amnesty International has reported massacres of Muslim civilians, and other sources have reported instances of Muslims being cannibalized.

Concern is so great for Pope Francis’s security in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, that Vatican officials said they have considered cutting short the trip there.

As is his custom, Pope Francis shook hands with everyone traveling on the papal plane.

At a welcoming ceremony with the Kenyan president, he expressed his hope of helping to heal divisions here and renew the commitment to protect the region’s wealth of natural resources.

Speaking in English, he said: “Experience shows that violence, conflict and terrorism feed on fear, mistrust and the despair born of poverty and frustration."

“I encourage you to foster a spirit of solidarity at every level of society," he added. “I ask you in particular to show genuine concern for the needs of the poor, the aspirations of the young, and a just distribution of natural and human resources."

In this former British colony, Pope Francis addressed his remarks in English but concluded in Swahili.

“Mungu abariki Kenya,” he said, which means "God bless Kenya."