大象传媒

Pascale Harter introduces despatches from Mexico, Canada, Kenya and Syria.

The death of Pope Francis is mourned especially deeply in Latin America - still home to more than 40 per cent of the world's Catholics. Although he never revisited his home country of Argentina, Pope Francis travelled widely in the region. In Mexico, his message of enduring faith and a Church open to all resonated particularly strongly with a priesthood facing the violence - and often the demands - of narco-trafficking cartels, reports Will Grant.

Canada's Liberal party appeared to be in the doldrums before Justin Trudeau's resignation as Prime Minister this spring. But American rhetoric about turning the country into 'the 51st state' has changed the political landscape and the Canadian election contest looks rather different today. Neal Razzell hears what's on voters' minds on Vancouver Island on the west coast.

Lamu town, on Kenya's Indian Ocean coast, has been a global commercial hub for centuries. Its monsoon trade winds helped speed dhows - sailboats - from Africa, past Arabia to India and back again, carrying profitable cargoes both ways. Now there are plans to expand a huge new port and transport complex, partly financed by Chinese loans and built by a Chinese consortium, linking Kenya to South Sudan and Ethiopia. Beth Timmins talked to local people about the possible impact it could have on fishing and family life.

Syria's millennia of history mean the country is full of extraordinary archaeological sites - with structures from the Nabataean, Roman, Byzantine and Umayyad eras still standing. But since civil war broke out in 2011, few foreigners have visited them. In the city of Bosra - once the capital of Roman Arabia - Leon McCarron heard from Syrians who once made a living from tourism how they hope to bring the industry back to life, following the fall of the Assad regime.

Producer: Polly Hope
Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith
Production Co-ordinator: Katie Morrison

Image: Pope Francis waves to the faithful upon his arrival in Morelia, Michoac谩n, Mexico on February 16, 2016. (Photo by ENRIQUE CASTRO/AFP via Getty Images)