Pope Mourned in Muslim-Dominated African Countries Like Burkina Faso

People throughout Africa are paying their last respects to the pope in their own ways, even in mainly Muslim countries, like Burkina Faso.

At the Ouagadougou residence of Burkina's Archbishop Jean-Marie Compaore, religious music is played throughout the day, as residents wait in line outside to sign a condolences book.

Monsignor Compaore says the pope is best remembered for setting up the Sahel Foundation, which helps the region find ways to combat desertification and lack of water. He says the pope always tried to help those living in the most difficult conditions.

One of those signing the condolence book is long-time President Blaise Compaore, a former coup leader, himself a Catholic.

He says the pope helped secure peace inside and outside borders. He says the pontiff's messages of reconciliation will remain with humanity forever.

Pope John Paul II came twice to Burkina Faso, and one woman is sad she will never be able to see him again.

"I'm not very happy," she said. "If you want to see Father now, you must go to Europe. I'm thinking where is he? I must have money."

Some paying their respects are Muslims, like journalist Abdoulaye.

"I think that he is somewhere in a very good place," said Abdoulaye. "That's what I believe, because he has done a lot of good things on earth. He was a good example of a Christian missionary, someone who believed sincerely in God and what he was preaching to humanity - brotherhood, sincerity, fighting against sicknesses like AIDS, or poverty, all over the world, and I think he was a great, great leader."

In Burkina Faso, one of the world's poorest countries, just 10 percent of the population is Catholic, but most people there seem to say they were graced by the pope's work to combat poverty and war.