Pope Francis made an Apostolic Journey to Mauritius on September 9 and prayed at the shrine dedicated to Blessed Jacques Laval, a Spiritan missionary priest whose influence on the island in the mid 1800s earned him the nickname, "the Apostle of Mauritius."

On this final day of his weeklong trip to Africa, Pope Francis celebrated Mass before 100,000 people at the Mary Queen of Peace Monument before praying at Blessed Father Laval's tomb. 

Some of the faithful visiting Laval's tomb this year were Holy Ghost Prep and Duquesne University alumnus Steve Sawka, along with his wife and young children. Sawka said that at any time, 50 people were gathered around the tomb. 

Known as the Apostle of Mauritius, Blessed Jacques Laval was sent to the missions on the island in 1841, where he ministered to former slaves. In the Spiritan tradition, he lived among them and learned their language as he helped improve farming and sanitation conditions. 

He is believed to have converted 67,000 people to his parish, and more than 30,000 mourners of all faiths attended his funeral, witness to their appreciation for his work. 

He became the first beatified Spiritan on April 29, 1979.

Laval's Feast Day has become an annual celebration on the island, with a festival and procession to the site of his tomb at Sainte-Croix.