(3 minutes read) (Global: EU)
During his address to the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See (Papacy) on January 09, Pope Francis underscored his concerns about conflicts in Africa, which have put ordinary life under great strain. The Pope will start his trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo on January 31
During his address to the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See (Papacy) on January 09, Pope Francis underscored his concerns about conflicts in Africa, which have put ordinary life under great strain. The Pope will start his trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo on January 31. The Holy See’s journey to the African country was initially scheduled for last July but was postponed because of his health issues. DRC has the largest number of Catholics in Africa, which is plagued by violence from armed groups from M23. A cease-fire to end the latest round of fighting was supposed to go into effect last week.
In Kinshasa, the Pope is set to deliver his first address on Congolese soil. Six sites have been selected for this papal visit including the military airport of Ndolo, where he will celebrate the Holy Mass, in the presence of a large number of DRC’s citizens, who are largely Catholics.
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The 86-year-old Pope will also visit South Sudan, where he will be joined by the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and the moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Right Rev. Iain Greenshields for a first-ever ecumenical peace trip by the leaders of the three Christian churches, at Juba, South Sudan, which will be held from February 3-5. The three will celebrate an ecumenical prayer service together, and meet with displaced South Sudanese. In his papal message at the function with the Diplomatic Corps, Pope Francis also expressed concerns about the crises in Burkina Faso, Mali, Nigeria, Chad, and Guinea.
