Pope begins Morocco visit to boost dialogue, meet migrants

RABAT - Pope Francis arrived in Morocco on Saturday for a visit which will see him meet Muslim leaders and migrants ahead of a mass with the country's minority Catholic community.

The Moroccan capital has stepped up security ahead of the first papal visit to the North African country since John Paul II in 1985.Francis was to be presented on arrival with dates and almond milk, before stepping into the popemobile and the monarch into a limousine. Francis will also visit an institute where around 1,300 students are studying to become imams and preachers, teaching "moderate Islam" and backed by the king.

In Morocco, where Islam is the state religion, authorities are keen to stress the country's "religious tolerance" which allows Christians and Jews to worship freely.

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