Chico Harlan and Katharine Houreld of The Washington Post report that Pope Francis is testing his personal power by prioritizing visits to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan – two countries that are emblematic of his papal priorities. They write, “Issues that he has placed at the core of his pontificate — exploitation by external powers, the proliferation of weapons, environmental plundering — are playing out in both countries in devastating fashion, with violence worsening, peace deals teetering.”