Pope visits war-torn African countries

The 86-year-old pontiff visits the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan, delivering a message of peace and reconciliation to two sub-Saharan nations plagued by conflict


“PILGRIMAGE OF PEACE”

For South Sudan leg, Pope (1) will be joined by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby (2) and by Church of Scotland Moderator Iain Greenshields (3) in unprecedented trip
by leaders of Roman Catholic, Anglican and Reformed Christian traditions

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SCHEDULE

Jan 31, DR Congo: Pope arrives in Kinshasa. Welcoming ceremony and meeting with President Felix Tshisekedi

Feb 1: Celebrates Mass at N’Dolo Airport. Meets victims of violence from eastern Congo and representatives of charities

Feb 2: Meets young people and catechists at Martyrs’ Stadium

Feb 3, South Sudan: Pope and two other religious leaders land in Juba. Welcoming ceremony and meeting with President Salva Kiir

Feb 4: Meeting with bishops at Cathedral of Saint Therese and with internally displaced people

Feb 5: Mass at mausoleum to John Garang – hero of South Sudan’s independence struggle. Departure for Rome


AFRICA
500km 300 miles
Juba
Kinshasa
DR CONGO

SOUTH SUDAN
Predominantly Christian country, still reeling from hunger and violence despite 2018 peace deal, which put end to five-year civil war

North Kivu: Pope’s stop in province scrapped due to flare-up in fighting between Congolese troops and rebels


Sources: Vatican, Reuters 
Pictures: Getty Images, Church of Scotland 
© GRAPHIC NEWS