This group of spirited and enthusiastic parishioners from the Archdiocese of Kinshasa in Congo have come to the Vatican for the closing of the Jubilee Year of Mercy.
Despite the cold, some were brave enough to remove their coats and scarves to display the traditional clothes they made before their trip to Rome. The matching clothes featured photos of Jesus of Mercy, the official Vatican logo for the Jubilee Year of Mercy and other images of Jesus.
DIEUBENI ILONGA
Archdiocese of Kinshasa (Congo)
'About not for myself, but for all of us, it's a good, good experience to pray to God and to visit the important places. That's the good, good end to the first experience of all of us here.'
The group was extremely proud of their clothes, that they made in the days leading up to their 7-day trip. They said they worked to make anywhere from 5-10 outfits a day for the 36 visitors.
'You want to see?â?
They attracted attention throughout St. Peter's Square with their waving flags and loud singing and dancing to the song, 'Mamma Maria, hey Mamma,â? which they practiced especially for this visit to Rome.
DIEUBENI ILONGA
Archdiocese of Kinshasa (Congo)
'For us, we came just to pray and when we finish, we'll go back. So it's good for us to make this experience with other people who come from other... like other people who come from Indonesia, France and so on. You see, that's good for us to see our people, our Catholic men praying to God and so on.â?
They recognize the rare occasion of the Jubilee Year of Mercy and said they had to take advantage of it. While the Holy Door of St. Peter's close Sunday, surely the spirit will continue to live in these pilgrims as they take their experiences and excitement back to Congo with them.
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