Maria da Paz prays silently on a pew near the altar of Beira cathedral. Tonight, as on many other nights, she wants to give thanks for simply being alive.
In March, Cyclone Idai roared across Mozambique's second city, bringing floods that killed more than 600 people and wrecking homes, businesses and crops.
Maria, somehow, survived.
The 49-year-old fervent Catholic frequently gives thanks to God -- and today she says she included Pope Francis in her prayers.
The pontiff is expected to arrive in the capital Maputo, about 720 kilometres (450 miles) north of Beira, on Wednesday.
"Idai completely destroyed the roof of my building. I live on the top floor, so you can just imagine!" Maria says.
"But I thank God for letting me live safely, letting me be here to bear witness. Some did not have that luck."
"I know that even from Maputo, the pope will have a word for all of us who have suffered."
"After the cyclone, many people fled their villages to live with relatives... but now they've returned, and have neither a house nor food."
"Entire villages were left to fend for themselves."
"It's a pity he's not coming here to see us, where the cyclone did so much harm. He should have done."
"But they've realised that his schedule wasn't just up to him."
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