LIVE | The Welcome Ceremony for Pope Francis in the Democratic Republic of Congo at N’djili International Airport, Kinshasa. The Holy Father is welcomed by the Prime Minister.
A prayer for the Sahara and a moment of silence for all who cross it in search of well-being: flying to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Pope Francis asked journalists for a minute’s silence. This is not a usual request, but Pope must have seen its importance, following his meeting with refugees from the DRC and South Sudan early this morning. As was the case on his way to Bahrain, the Pope did not go around the plane to greet the journalists, but instead, they came to him.
Following the 6 hour flight, Pope Francis arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo, beginning his 40th apostolic journey, which will also take him to South Sudan. It is a long-awaited trip, initially planned for last July and then postponed. Therefore, high participation is expected from the people of both countries, so much so that, at tomorrow’s Mass, two million people are expected.
Before leaving, the Pope met with some Congolese and South Sudanese refugees hosted by the Centro Astalli. Then, arriving at Fiumicino airport, he stopped briefly near the Monument to the Fallen of Kindu, the 13 Italian airmen killed in Congo on November 11, 1961.
“To the victims of that bloody massacre and to all those who lost their lives participating in humanitarian and peace missions,” noted the Holy See Press Office, “Pope Francis dedicated a prayer and then proceeded in the direction of the plane that will take him to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan, for his Apostolic Journey.
During the flight, before greeting journalists, Pope Francis recalled that the trip had been pending for a year. He said: “It is a beautiful trip! I would have liked to go to Goma, but with the war, you cannot go there. It will only be Kinshasa and Juba. We will do everything there. Thank you for being here with me and being all together. Thank you for your work. That is so good. It helps so much because it gets to the people interested in the trip, the pictures, and your thoughts, and reflections about the trip. Thank you so much.”
Then, at the time of the crossing over the Sahara desert, Pope Francis said, “Right now we are crossing the Sahara, let’s have a little thought of silence, a prayer, for all the people who are looking for a little bit of well-being, a little bit of freedom, who have tried to cross and have not made it. So many suffering people who come to the Mediterranean, after crossing the desert, are caught in the refugee camps and suffer there. We pray for all those people.”
In the welcome to the DRC, the Pope was greeted by the Prime Minister, who accompanies him to the Palais des Nations, where he will deliver the first speech of his trip, dedicated to the Diplomatic Corps and the authorities.
