Pope Francis landed in the Democratic Republic of Congo Tuesday, hailing his 'beautiful trip' to Africa as he comes bearing a message of peace to the conflict-torn nation and its troubled neighbour South Sudan
AFP | Guerchom Ndebo
"We've been waiting for a year, it's a beautiful trip," the 86-year-old pope told reporters travelling aboard his plane. The six-day trip to DRC and South Sudan had been planned for July 2022, but postponed due to the pontiff's knee pain that has forced him in recent months to use a wheelchair.Security concerns were also said to play a role in delaying the trip, and a stop in Goma in DR Congo's east, where dozens of armed groups operate, is no longer on the itinerary.
As the papal plane flew over the Sahara, the pope held a prayer for"all the people who, searching for a little well-being, a bit of freedom, crossed and didn't make it". The region has also seen a wave of deadly attacks blamed on the Allied Democratic Forces , a group the Islamic State claims as an affiliate, including a bomb blast at a Pentecostal church this month that killed 14 people.
"He can deliver a strong message to politicians by addressing the issue of corruption" ahead of a general election scheduled for December, said Samuel Pommeret with Catholic humanitarian group CCFD-Terre Solidaire, which operates in the area.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Africa Live: Pope Francis heads to DR Congo in landmark visit - BBC NewsThe country last hosted a pope more than 37 years ago when it was called Zaire - and more.
Read more »
Africa Live: Pope Francis arrives in DR Congo for landmark visit - BBC NewsYou’re used to oceans being blue, but what about your tap water? Authorities in Johannesburg have launched an investigation after a resident found blue water flowing from her tap.
Read more »
Pope Francis to visit DR Congo and South Sudan this weekThe January 31-February 5 visit to Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and South Sudan, takes the 86-year-old pope to places where Catholics make up about half of the populations and where the church is a key player in health and educational systems as well as in democracy-building efforts.
Read more »
Pope Francis Bringing Message of Peace to DR Congo, South SudanPope Francis is visiting the Democratic Republic of Congo and its neighbouring state, South Sudan. The 86-year-old Roman Catholic pontiff planned to visit in 2022 but postponed due to ill health. Pope Francis will be in DR Congo from January 31 to February 3, 2023 and will then spend two days in South Sudan before returning to the Vatican City. According to Vatican's statistics, the DR Congo has more than 52 million Catholic believers - more than half of the country's total population. The Catholic Church supports more than 13,100 elementary schools in the country and 40% of its healthcare facilities. The Pope's visit comes at a time when DR Congo is experiencing deadly clashes between the military and M23 rebels. On February 1, 2023 a celebratory Mass will be held in capital city Kinshasa. In South Sudan, Pope Francis will meet with internally displaced persons and take part in an ecumenical prayer service at the John Garang Mausoleum in Juba, where he will also celebrate Mass on Sunday February 5, 2023.
Read more »
Pope condemns rich countries’ ‘poison of greed’ stoking conflict in CongoPope Francis denounced the 'poison of greed' for mineral resources driving conflict in Democratic Republic of Congo as he began a visit there on Tuesday, saying the rich world could no longer ignore the tragic plight of many African nations.
Read more »