Mr. Bruno said that the doctors of Pope Francis had made the request to postpone the pastoral visit to Africa, and that the trip will be moved “to a later date to be determined”.
Since then, the Holy Father has repeatedly reconfirmed his desire to realize his third trip to Africa.
On June 12, Pope Francis said he is praying to reschedule his 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.
Speaking at the start of his audience with members of the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers) in the Vatican’s Clementine Hall on June 13, the Holy Father reiterated his intention to reschedule his third visit to Africa.
The 85-year-old Pontiff told the delegates of the Missionaries of Africa, “Indeed, at my age, it is not so easy to go on a mission trip! But your prayers and example give me courage, and I am confident that I can visit these peoples, whom I carry in my heart.”
In his address in Juba during the July 7 event, the representative of the Holy Father in South Sudan challenged the people of God in the East-Central African nation to have some concrete “political progress” by the time Pope Francis realizes his postponed visit.
“We should not only do things that are ready for the visit of the Holy Father but we really have to offer something to him in terms of political progress and to be able to tell the Holy Father that we have surely made peace in this country,” the Nairobi-based Archbishop further said.
Having some indicators of progress toward lasting peace, he said, “is a role for all of us to play not only for the leaders of this country; it's for each and every one of us because all of us have the responsibility in bringing peace into our families, communities, and in our beloved country.”
The Apostolic Nuncio who also represents the Holy father in Kenya went on to recount his recent encounter with the Holy Father in Rome, saying, “You know it’s exactly one week since I was in Rome and had a meeting with Pope Francis and we spoke about South Sudan and what to do after he postponed the visit and there was a clear message from him, that Monsignor Bert, I will come.”
