Programme for Pope Francis' visit to DRC and South Sudan
By Pope staff writer
Pope Francis will travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to South Sudan from 31 January to 5 February 2023. His visit had originally been scheduled for the summer of 2022, but had to be postponed due to health issues.
The Apostolic Journey was announced in a statement from the Director of the Holy See Press Office: "Accepting the invitation of their respective Heads of State and Bishops, His Holiness Pope Francis will make the announced Apostolic Journey to the Democratic Republic of Congo from 31 January to 3 February 2023, visiting the city of Kinshasa, and, together with the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Ecumenical Pilgrimage of Peace to Juba, South Sudan, from 3 to 5 February next."
Highlights of the Pope's Apostolic Journey will include a visit with representatives from charitable organizations in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and in South Sudan, a meeting with internally displaced persons and an Ecumenical Prayer service.
With the formal announcement of the Pope's visit, the Holy See Press Office released the following schedule for the Apostolic Journey to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan (Ecumenical Peace Pilgrimage to South Sudan):
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Tuesday, 31 January 2023
ROME - KINSHASA
07:55 Departure by airplane from Rome/Fiumicino International Airport to Kinshasa
15:00 Arrival at Kinshasa “Ndjili” International Airport
15:00 OFFICIAL WELCOME
16:30 WELCOME CEREMONY at the “Palais de la Nation”
16:45 COURTESY VISIT TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC in the “Salle Présidentielle” of the “Palais de la Nation”
17:30 MEETING WITH AUTHORITIES, CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS in the garden of the “Palais de la Nation”
Wednesday, 1 February 2023
KINSHASA
09:30 HOLY MASS at “Ndolo” Airport
16:30 MEETING WITH VICTIMS FROM THE EASTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY at the Apostolic Nunciature
18:30 MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM SOME CHARITIES at the Apostolic Nunciature
Thursday, 2 February 2023
KINSHASA
09:30 MEETING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AND CATECHISTS in Martyrs’ Stadium
16:30 PRAYER MEETING WITH PRIESTS, DEACONS, CONSECRATED PERSONS AND SEMINARIANS in the Cathedral “Notre Dame du Congo”
18:30 PRIVATE MEETING WITH MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS at the Apostolic Nunciature
Friday, 3 February 2023
KINSHASA - JUBA
08:30 MEETING WITH BISHOPS at CENCO
10:10 FAREWELL CEREMONY at Kinshasa “Ndjili” International Airport
10:40 Departure by airplane from Kinshasa “Ndjili” International Airport to Juba
South Sudan
The Holy Father is making the Journey to South Sudan together with the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
15:00 Arrival at Juba International Airport
15:00 WELCOME CEREMONY
15:45 COURTESY VISIT TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC at the Presidential Palace
16:15 MEETING WITH THE VICE-PRESIDENTS OF THE REPUBLIC
17:00 MEETING WITH AUTHORITIES, CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS in the garden of the Presidential Palace
Saturday, 4 February 2023
JUBA
09:00 MEETING WITH BISHOPS, PRIESTS, DEACONS, CONSECRATED PERSONS AND SEMINARIANS in the Cathedral of Saint Therese
11:00 PRIVATE MEETING WITH MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS at the Apostolic Nunciature
16:30 MEETING WITH INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS in the “Freedom Hall”
18:00 ECUMENICAL PRAYER at “John Garang” Mausoleum
Sunday, 5 February 2023
JUBA - ROME
08:45 HOLY MASS at “John Garang” Mausoleum
11:00 FAREWELL CEREMONY at Juba International Airport
11:30 Departure by airplane from Juba International Airport to Rome
17:30 Arrival at Rome Fiumicino International Airport
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