Pope Francis will visit the African countries of the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan in January 31–February 5, 2023, according to the Vatican.
Pope Francis will be the first pope to visit South Sudan, which became the world’s newest country when it declared independence from the Republic of the Sudan on July 9, 2011. The nation in east-central Africa has a population of 11 million people, around 37% of whom are Catholic, according to theIn 2019, Pope Francis brought South Sudanese leaders together at the Vatican for a “spiritual retreat” aimed at resolving their differences.
The Pope also celebrated Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica for Congolese immigrants in 2019, marking the 25th anniversary of the foundation of the Congolese Catholic Chaplaincy of Rome. The Democratic Republic of Congo is a Central African country of approximately 90 million people, roughly half of whom are Catholic. Pope John Paul II visited the country, then known as Zaire, in 1980.
After reluctantly bowing out of his own scheduled trip to Africa in July, Pope Francis sent the Vatican’s second-highest-ranking official in his place, Cardinal Pietro Parolin. The pope also celebrated a Mass for Rome’s Congolese community in St. Peter’s Basilica on July 3, the day he was due to offer Mass in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, theAll rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Nigeria Latest News, Nigeria Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
DOAM Foundation Golf tourney holds Jan 28 | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World NewsAhead of the twelfth edition of the Daniel Ogechi Akujobi Memorial Foundation Charity Golf Tournament, corporate firms have indicated their interest to support the event.
Read more »
Davido, Burna Boy, Wizkid, Asake win big at 8th AFRIMAThe Nigerian music industry continues to dominate Africa as Nigerian acts swept most of the awards at the 8th All Africa Music Award, AFRIMA, which took
Read more »
Black Panther hits N1bn box-office record in W'AfricaMarvel Studios’ Black Panther 'Wakanda Forever' has smashed its box-office record by becoming the first film to reach N1 billion in Nigeria and Ghana since its release in November 2022.
Read more »
AFRIMA: Burna Boy, Davido, Wizkid, Others Emerge Biggest WinnersAfrobeat frontrunners Burna Boy, Davido and Wizkid emerged the biggest winners at the 2022 installment of the Africa Union’s All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA)
Read more »
UNIPGC Africa Congratulates Ojadah On Appointment As IPGC/CIPG Global PresidentThe executives of the United International Peace and Governance Council of Africa (UNIPGC) Africa, have congratulated Ambassador (Dr) Jonathan Ojadah, on his
Read more »
Buhari to receive award in Mauritania for promoting peace in AfricaFor his role in promoting the sustenance of peace in the African continent, especially regular counsels and conciliatory meetings, President Muhammadu
Read more »