Vatican Secretary of State to Be in DR Congo Day Pope Francis Had Scheduled Holy Mass

In the statement signed by CENCO Secretary General, Fr. Donatien Nshole, Catholic Bishops in DRC reassure the Congolese people that “this visit of the Secretary of State, the equivalent of the Prime Minister, of the Vatican City State to Kinshasa does not replace that of Pope Francis, which has only been postponed and for which we are waiting for the communication of new dates.”

The fact that Pope Francis’ July 24-29 planned visit to Canada is on course “is an encouraging sign of the positive evolution of the care that he is taking”, Catholic Bishops in DRC say, and add, “Without a doubt, the trip to Canada will also be a test for the Pope and his doctor of the effectiveness of this care and will serve as an evaluation of the Pontiff's future activities.”

They continue, “It is up to us to continue to pray for God's grace so that the Church-family of God in the DR Congo may experience the joy of seeing and hearing the Vicar of Christ, Pope Francis, in the DR Congo, in Kinshasa and in Goma.”

CENCO members also acknowledge Pope Francis’ plan to celebrate Holy Mass with Congolese in Rome.

They say, “Pope Francis, after reassuring that this is not a cancellation, but a postponement of his trip to the DRC, and having publicly asked for forgiveness for the inconvenience that this postponement will have caused to the Congolese People, announced that on the same Sunday, July 3, 2022, he will celebrate a Mass at St. Peter's Basilica with the Congolese community in Rome.”

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“May God bless the DR Congo and its people,” Catholic Bishops in DRC implore in their June 25 statement shared with ACI Africa.

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.

Cardinal Parolin is also expected to be in South Sudan on July 5, the day Pope Francis was previously scheduled to arrive in the country alongside the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, Jim Wallace.

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.