Vatican Unveils the Program of Pope Francis Apostolic Visit to DR Congo and South Sudan
The officials of Holy See press unveils the Program of Pope Francis Journey which is set to be from 2 - 7 of July
Vatican Unveils the Program of Pope Francis Apostolic Visit to DR Congo and South Sudan
By: Sr. Henriette Anne (FSSA)
The Holy See Press unveiled the program of Pope Francis apostolic visit to Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. The Apostolic journey will begin on 2 – 7 of July. The program which was published on May 28 shows that the Holy Father will land at Kinshasa “Ndjili” International Airport on July 2 at 16h00. The officials of the Holy See press noted that the visit of the Holy Father to South Sudan is “Ecumenical Peace Pilgrimage to the South Sudanese land and people”.
Pope Francis will be in DR of Congo from 2 – 4 of July and in the morning of July 5, the Holy Father will leave for South Sudan after a 30min session where he will meet young people and Catechist at Kinshasa’s “Martyrs Stadium” followed by a farewell ceremony at Ndjili international airport.
Holy Father is to be received in South Sudan at Juba international airport in a ceremony before paying a courtesy visit to President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir. Pope Francis will have a 30min meeting with the president Salva Kiir and 45min meeting with the Vice President Riek Machar at the presidential palace in Juba
The program also shows that Pope Francis in His first days of visit will engage with authorities and members of the Diplomatic corps in the garden of the presidential palace in Juba.
The Pope is expected on 6 July to visit internally displaced persons (IDPs) at their camp in Juba after which he will meet Jesuits in South Sudan privately at the Apostolic Nunciature.
On the same day late afternoon, Pope Francis is schedule to meet Bishops, the clergy, religious men and women and seminarians at St. Theresa’s Cathedral of Juba Archdiocese.
Holy Father will participate in an ecumenical prayer alongside Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and the moderator of the Church of Scotland, Jim Wallace at John Garang Mausoleum on the evening of 6 July.
On the morning of the last day, Holy Mass will be held at the John Garang Mausoleum to end ecumenical trip and then farewell ceremony at Juba international airport on July 7 midmorning before Pope Francis departure for Rome.
