Before beginning his apostolic journey to Africa, Pope Francis met with migrants and refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan at the Vatican. 

The meeting took place at Casa Santa Marta, and the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, accompanied them, the Holy See Press Office reported. 

Nine refugees from the South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo living in Rome receive support from Centro Astalli, the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) in Italy. 

As reported by Centro Astalli, the Holy Father “greeted the refugees and was happy to meet with them and their families.” 

“It was a significant moment before a trip in which, once again, Pope Francis focused on the existential and geographical peripheries of the world, crisis areas from which every, day thousands of people flee in search of salvation,” described JRS. 

Cedric is a Congolese refugee in Italy who lives in Rome with his wife and three young children. 

Centro Astalli noted that Cedric “was an actor in his country and carried out theatrical and documentary projects to promote human rights among new generations in Kinshasa. His civic commitment forced him first to go to prison, and then to leave his country and seek asylum in Italy”. 

Mirra, another refugee, has subsidiary protection in Italy. “Five years ago, she managed to reunite her family with her two children, both of whom have albinism, a condition that in DRC is often a cause of violence and discrimination.” 

Finally, Bidong is a refugee from South Sudan. “He was raised from age 9 in a refugee camp in Ethiopia, where he was forced to flee because of the war. He is currently studying Development Cooperation at La Sapienza University in Rome.” 

Pope Francis will remain in Africa from January 31st to February 5th. 

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News.