The people of Congo are more precious than any of the gems or minerals found in the earth beneath their feet, yet they have been slaughtered by warmongers and exploited by prospectors, Pope Francis said.
"This country, so immense and full of life,
Pope Francis is taking off for the African continent Jan. 31 for a historic and long-awaited apostolic trip to Congo and South Sudan, countries longing for peace and stability.
The pontiff will first travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Jan.
After flying across the equator, Pope Francis was welcomed warmly -- in every sense -- to Congo where Catholics make up the majority of the population and where, for decades, the Catholic Church has been at the forefront of efforts to bring
Pope Francis' fifth trip to the African continent will highlight gestures of peace and reconciliation, consoling the victims of violence but also emphasizing the importance of each person sowing peace in the family, the neighborhood and the nation.
The pope is scheduled to
Deadly violence hit Christians in Africa Jan. 15, with a Catholic priest in northern Nigeria burned to death and as many as 17 Christians killed in a blast in eastern Congo.
In Nigeria, Father Isaac Achi was burned to death at his residence
After postponing his trip last July, Pope Francis has rescheduled for Jan. 31-Feb. 5 his trip to Congo and his ecumenical visit to South Sudan, the Vatican announced.
With the pope's mobility still impaired, the new schedule for the trip has been trimmed
While many people were disappointed that Pope Francis was unable to make his long-awaited visit to Congo and South Sudan, Cardinal Pietro Parolin assured the people that the pope had not given up on visiting them.
"I did not come on my own
Despite disappointment that Pope Francis was not in Congo July 3, some 2,000 people -- most of them Congolese -- joined the pope for Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, singing, swaying and ululating.
"Let us pray for peace and reconciliation in your homeland,
Although he postponed his own trip to Congo and South Sudan, Pope Francis has asked Cardinal Pietro Parolin, his secretary of state, to visit the two countries July 1-8, the Vatican press office said.
Pope Francis had been scheduled to visit Kinshasa and
Pope Francis will travel to the war-scarred countries of Congo and South Sudan in early July, the Vatican press office said.
"At the invitation of their respective heads of state and bishops," the pope will visit Kinshasa and Goma in Congo July 2-5