Pope Francis to Fulfill the postponed Trip to Africa, Vatican Unveils

Pope Francis to Fulfill the postponed Trip to Africa, Vatican Unveils

By Sr. Henriette Anne (FSSA)

The Hole See has announced that Pope Francis is set to fulfill his trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan early next year.

In a statement issued on Thursday, December 1, 2022, officials of the Holy See Press office unveil the program and itinerary of the “Apostolic Journey of His Holiness Francis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and in South Sudan (Ecumenical Pilgrimage of Peace in South Sudan) from 31 January to 5 February 2023.”

The trip to two African countries is scheduled to begin in the capital city of DRC, Kinshasa, and conclude in South Sudan’s capital city, Juba, where the Holy Father together with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, Iain Greenshields, are to preside over ecumenical prayer.

The program shows that the apostolic visit of Pope Francis will first land at Kinshasa Ndjili international airport on Tuesday. 31^st January 2023. A 15min welcoming ceremony has been scheduled to take place at “Palais de la Nation” in Kinshasa.

 The Holy Father will proceed to pay a courtesy visit to President Felix Tshisekedi at “Palais de la Nation” which will take 15 mins. Thereafter Pope Francis will have a meeting with the authorities and members of the Diplomatic corps in the garden of the “Palais de la Nation” in Kinshasa for 45 mins.

The program further indicates that the Holy Father will begin his second day in DRC by presiding over the Holy Mass at Ndolo Airport in Kinshasa. After the Eucharistic celebration, there will be a meeting with the victims from the Eastern part of the country at the Apostolic Nunciature. The Holy Father will also meet with representatives from some charities at the Apostolic Nunciature.

On the 2^nd of February 2023, Pope Francis is to engage with young people and Catechists at Kinshasa’s “Martyrs' Stadium”, and also have a meeting with Priests, women, and men Religious, and Seminarians at the Cathedral "Notre Dame du Congo" of Kinshasa Archdiocese.

He will conclude his trip in DRC with a Customary private meeting with his confreres, members of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), at the Kinshasa – based Apostolic Nunciature.

Before Pope Francis takes off to Juba in the morning of 3^rd February 2023, he is expected to meet members of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO), to be followed by a farewell ceremony at the “Ndjili" international airport, from where he will leave for South Sudan.

He will be received in South Sudan at Juba international airport in a welcome ceremony and then proceed for a courtesy visit to President Salva Kiir at the presidential Palace. After meeting the president for 30min he will have a meeting with the Vice presidents of South Sudan for 45 mins at the Juba Presidential Palace.

Another activity of Pope Francis in South Sudan is to engage with the authorities and members of the diplomatic corps in the garden of the Presidential Palace and on the 4^th is set to meet with Bishops, members of the clergy, women, and men religious, and Seminarians at the Apostolic Nunciature and thereafter have a private meeting with Jesuits in South Sudan in the Apostolic. He is also expected to visit internally displaced persons (IDPs) at Freedom Hall in Juba.

The Holy Father will also participate in an ecumenical prayer service alongside Archbishop Welby and Rev. Greenshields at the John Garang Mausoleum in the evening of Saturday 4^th 2023.

On his last day of the ecumenical trip, on Sunday, 5 February 2023, the celebration of the Holy Mass will be at John Garang Mausoleum, followed by a farewell ceremony at Juba international airport in the midmorning before Pope Francis leaves for Rome.