Pope Francis is determined to travel to Africa despite his knee problems. In fact, the Vatican has published the trip's schedule.
His first stop will be the Democratic Republic of Congo. He will arrive on July 2 and leave on July 5. From there he will visit the region of North Kivu.
It is an area choked by violence. A European diplomat was assassinated there in 2021. There is ongoing fighting for dominance of coltan and it is also the region where the Ebola outbreak took place in 2018 and 2019. Not only that, the area also hosted refugees from Uganda, who were victims of a vicious string of Islamic fundamentalist attacks between 2014 and 2016. The Pope is to meet with them, creating a scene similar to that of 2015 in Central African Republic.
I would like for everyone to say together, 'We are all brothers.'
From July 5 to 7 the Pope will visit South Sudan. It will be an ecumenical trip made with other Christian leaders such as Justin Welby, leader of the Anglican Church. Here he will also visit a refugee camp, although in this country, the Pope will have to measure his words since peace is based on more than fragile foundations, despite the efforts made by him and other Christian leaders, along with the Community of Sant'Egidio.
JRB
TRANS: OG
