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Bishops in DR Congo Urge Christians to “remain serene in hope” after Pope Postpones Visit

Some members of the Standing Committee of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO). Credit: CENCO

By Jude Atemanke

Kinshasa, 15 June, 2022 / 9:45 pm (ACI Africa).

Catholic Bishops in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have, in a collective statement, called on the people of God in the Central African nation to “remain serene in hope” after the Holy Father postponed his previously scheduled Apostolic visit to the country.

In their statement circulated Tuesday, June 14, members of the Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) say, “The announcement on Friday, June 10, 2022, of the postponement of the apostolic visit of the Holy Father, Pope Francis, to the DR Congo, initially planned for July 2 to 5, came to us like a bolt of lightning while we were in the midst of preparations for this great historic event for our country.”

“We recorded several reactions of regret expressing the pain of knowing that the Pope is ill,” CENCO members further say, and add, “Certainly, all these reactions are an expression of the great love we have for our spiritual Father, the Successor of Peter, who has always had a constant attention on our country.”

In their statement dated June 13, Catholic Bishops in DRC encourage the people of the God in the country to “maintain the momentum of prayer” as they wait in hope for the realization of the Papal visit.

“We recommend you to remain serene in hope, to be patient despite the inconvenience of the postponement of the papal visit and to remain faithful in prayer for nothing is impossible to God,” they say, and add, “We, your spiritual fathers, invite you to maintain the momentum of prayer that has been started so that this apostolic visit may take place in the best conditions.”

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CENCO members invite Catholics “to participate on Sunday, July 3, 2022, when we were supposed to be with the Pope, in the Mass that will be organized in each Diocese of the DR Congo, for peace and reconciliation in our country and to invoke the divine grace on the health of the Sovereign Pontiff.”

The Holy See Press Office Director, Matteo Bruni, announced on June 10 the postponement of Pope Francis’ two-African-nation pastoral trip that had been unveiled last month, indicating that the decision was “at the request of his doctors”, and that it would take place at “a later date to be determined”.

Mr. Bruni explained, “At the request of his doctors, and in order not to jeopardize the results of the therapy that he is undergoing for his knee, the Holy Father has been forced to postpone, with regret, his Apostolic Journey to the Democratic Republic of Congo and to South Sudan.”

On June 12, Pope Francis said he is praying to reschedule the Apostolic trip to DRC and the ecumenical visit to South Sudan “as soon as possible”.

In his remarks after his Angelus reflection for pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square on Holy Trinity Sunday, Pope Francis apologized to authorities of the two African nations for having to postpone the six-day trip that had been scheduled to begin in the capital city of DRC, Kinshasa on July 2, and conclude on July 7 in South Sudan’s capital city, Juba.

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In their June 13 collective statement signed by CENCO President, Archbishop Marcel Utembi Tapa, Catholic Bishops in DRC say that the Holy Father once again demonstrated his love for the DRC “during the Angelus on Sunday, June 12, 2022, when he said how much he too is saddened by this postponement and that he wants to come as soon as possible.”

Pope Francis, they add, “asks us to forgive him for the inconvenience caused and invites us to join him in his prayer that God will grant him the grace of healing and that this visit will take place as soon as possible.”

CENCO members note that the “regrets aroused in different ways throughout the country by the announcement of the postponement of the trip of the Apostle of reconciliation to the DR Congo is an eloquent sign to understand that the Congolese people as a whole yearn for peace.”

“May this postponement not break the momentum of the work and the surge of solidarity underway,” Catholic Bishops in DRC implore, and add, “May those who have pledged to contribute and who have not yet done so, not hesitate to do so. This will allow us to be ready to welcome the Holy Father at any time that his health permits.”

They also “thank and congratulate the Authorities of the country who are sparing no effort in the preparations for this visit, as well as our faithful and men and women of good will who, in addition to praying, are showing great generosity in the material organization and with financial contributions to give the Holy Father a welcome worthy of his rank.”

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CENCO members further ask those pursuing violence in the Eastern part of the country “to show a sense of humanity and respect for life.”

“Let them put a definitive end to the war,” they say, and add in reference to those sowing violence in the Eastern part of the country, “Violence calls for violence and will never be a solution to their demands.”

The Catholic Bishops underscore the need for positive change in the Central African nation saying, “Conversion and dialogue are the only way to build peace in our country.”

“May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows, intercede with her Son for the health of the Holy Father. May God take us in grace and bless our country,” CENCO members implore in their collective statement dated June 13.

Jude Atemanke

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.