Mozambique's President Filipe Nyusi and Pope Francis walking past a guard of honour at the airport in Maputo, Mozambique

The streets were lined with people waving at the Popemobile as it passed by.

On the first full day of his visit on Thursday, the pontiff is expected to meet President Nyusi and raise a recent peace agreement ending years of civil war, as well as the devastation caused by two cyclones earlier this year.

Correspondents say the visit will allow Pope Francis to focus again on two of the main themes of his pontificate - care for the planet and compassion for the poor.

On Friday he will celebrate mass at a stadium in Maputo before travelling on to Madagascar and Mauritius.