Kikwit, 17 May, 2022 / 9:13 pm (ACI Africa).
The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Kikwit in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has expressed joy as the Central African nation awaits the visit of Pope Francis, noting that the visit signifies the coming of St. Peter “to confirm us in the faith”.
During a visit to the international headquarters of Catholic Pontifical and charity foundation, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), in Germany, Bishop Timothée Bodika Mansiyai said that the population in DRC is all really thrilled at the news of the visit of Pope Francis who they look up to as a shepherd.
“When news of the Pope’s visit was made public, we were thrilled. This is Saint Peter coming to us. He comes as a shepherd, to confirm us in the faith, and we feel very blessed by his visit”, Bishop Bodika has been quoted as saying in the ACN Monday, May 16 report.
The Congolese Bishop says that for Catholics in the Central African country, the Holy Father’s visit is a moment of great joy, adding that there is a lot of curiosity, especially for those who do not know Pope Francis.
Pope Francis is expected to arrive in the capital of DRC, Kinshasa, on July 2 in his two-African-nation pastoral trip that is to see him proceed to South Sudan in an ecumenical trip alongside the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, Jim Wallace.