The Latest: Pope condemns illegal trade in ivory, diamonds

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) -

The latest on Pope Francis' first trip to Africa. (All times local.)

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6:55 p.m.

Pope Francis, who has made the fight against human trafficking a major priority, is denouncing other forms of illegal trafficking during his first-ever visit to Africa.

In a speech Thursday to the regional U.N. headquarters, Francis said illegal trade in diamonds and other precious stones and metals, as well as the poaching of elephants for their ivory tusks "fuels political instability, organized crime and terrorism."

He said: "This situation is a cry rising up from humanity and the Earth itself, one which needs to be heard by the international community."

Francis' speech, one of the most important of his six-day visit, was interrupted several times by rousing applause from the U.N. staff and U.N.-accredited diplomatic corps.

The Nairobi U.N. office is headquarters for the U.N. Environment Program and the U.N. Habitat program.

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6:22 p.m.

Pope Francis warns it would be "catastrophic" if special interests get in the way of a global agreement to curb the fossil fuel emissions blamed for global warming at a meeting next week in Paris over climate change.

In a speech to the African U.N. headquarters on Thursday, Francis said the Paris negotiations mark a crucial step in developing a new energy system that "corrects the dysfunctions and distortions" of the current model of development and fights poverty.

Francis has made ecological concerns a hallmark of his nearly 3-year-old papacy. But on Thursday, he took particular aim at those who deny the science behind climate change.

In the United States, that accounts for several Republican presidential candidates and lawmakers, who have opposed steps U.S. President Barack Obama has taken on his own to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

He said: "It would be sad, and dare I say even catastrophic, were special interests to prevail over the common good and lead to manipulating information in order to protect their own plans and interests."

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5:30 p.m.

Pope Francis has urged Kenyan priests and nuns to serve others and not be served - and told seminarians if they're not up to the task to go find a new job and start a family.

Francis was in an unusually feisty mood during his meeting Thursday with several hundred clergy and nuns, during which he ditched his prepared speech and spoke off-the-cuff. In many ways it was a tough-love speech, urging them to not waste their time watching TV but dedicate all their waking hours to serving others or praying.

By the end, he apologized saying "what an impolite pope!" and thanked them all for their work. He realized he had neglected the seminarians in the crowd. He said everything he had said applied to them, but that if they weren't up to it, that's OK, they can go find a job and start a family.

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4:50 p.m.

Several thousand Kenyan priests, seminarians and nuns have welcomed Pope Francis to a special meeting in the fields of a Catholic school here.

Francis is speaking off-the-cuff, drawing cheers and loud applause from the crowd.

He's telling the clergy and nuns that Jesus has chosen them, and that they should follow Christ.

Francis often ditches his prepared speeches when he meets with local clergy or young people. As he often does, he apologized for not being able to speak English well enough, and reverts to his native Spanish.

-AP writer Nicole Winfield

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1:15 p.m.

Nairobi police say an estimated 300,000 people attended Pope Francis' first public Mass in Africa, far fewer than the 1.4 million Kenyan authorities had predicted.

Heavy rainfall was believed at least in part to blame for the less-than-expected turnout. Kenyans had lined up as early as 3 a.m. Thursday to try to get a spot, but had no shelter and were soon standing in huge puddles of mud.

Police chief Japheth Koome told The Associated Press that an estimated 300,000 people attended the Mass at the University of Nairobi campus and surrounding parks.

Kenyan authorities had predicted that as many as 1.4 million people would turn out and declared a national holiday Thursday. The Vatican spokesman, however, had estimated that at most about 500,000 people could fit in the venues.

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11:45 a.m.

Some of the Kenyans hoping to see Pope Francis at his first public Mass in Africa have gone home, fearing a stampede due to disorganization.

Kenyan authorities estimated that as many as 1.4 million people could turn out for Thursday's Mass at the University of Nairobi campus and surrounding parks. Vatican officials put the estimate at nearly a third of that, but one of the nearby parks that was expected to be full was nearly half empty.

Sarah Ondiso, a senior government official, says she came to the grounds at 4:30 a.m. but left because of the disorganization. She says she waited in one line for two hours, then crowds were moved from one gate to the next with security unsure where to direct people.

She says she eventually left because she feared a stampede. She says: "We were all disappointed."

-Tom Odula, Nairobi.

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10:30 a.m.

Pope Francis is issuing a strong appeal for traditional family values in his first public Mass in Africa.

In his homily Thursday, Francis called for Kenyans to support families and welcome children as a blessing. He urged them to resist practices "which foster arrogance in men, hurt or demean women and threaten the life of the innocent unborn."

The African church is among the most conservative in the world, and African bishops have been at the forefront in insisting that traditional church teachings on marriage and sexuality, and its opposition to abortion, be strongly emphasized.

Francis obliged, but also stressed issues of his own concern: He called for Kenyans to shape a more just society that looks out for the poor and to "reject everything that leads to prejudice and discrimination, for these things are not of God."

-Nicole Winfield, Nairobi.

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10:10 a.m.

Kenyan Sen. Hassan Omar, a Muslim, says he has keenly followed Pope Francis and has welcomed his message of tolerance and care for the poor.

He says: "This pope has transcended religious fault lines. He has talked about of plight Palestinians, the weak and the downtrodden. He epitomizes simplicity and demonstrated that he is foremost defender for social justice."

According to Omar, Francis has emerged as a global leader and his message is important for Africa, which faces many challenges, from corruption, poverty and religious extremism, among others.

- Tom Odula, Nairobi.

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10 a.m.

Nelly Ndunge says the pope's visit to Kenya is a blessing because it will renew her faith and had boosted her printing business.

The 29-year-old Kenyan says she sold nearly 3,000 copies of a 2016 calendar with the pope's portrait on it.

Ndunge says she had been on the road since 5 a.m. to get to the University of Nairobi campus for Francis' first public Mass on Thursday morning. Others had been there since 3 a.m., braving heavy downpours that soaked the grounds.

She says: "I am a Catholic and I believe he is godsend. We hope his visit will bring positive change. Sometimes we lose faith so I hope he can strengthen my faith in God."

- Tom Odula, Nairobi.

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9:40 a.m.

Pope Francis has boarded his open-sided popemobile for a spin through the tens of thousands of people gathered for his first public Mass in Africa.

A sea of umbrellas awaited Francis at the University of Nairobi campus, and thousands of people stood in lines several kilometers (miles) long to try to get close to the site.

Kenyans are singing, dancing and cheering as he passes by.

Francis arrived in Kenya on Wednesday on his first trip to Africa. Earlier Thursday, he told Christian and Muslim leaders they have little choice but to engage in dialogue to ward off the "barbarous" extremist attacks that have hit Kenya recently.

- Nicole Winfield, Nairobi.