Pope Reschedules Visit to South Sudan to Early Feb 2023

by Global Ministries | published on Dec 6, 2022

This article was originally posted here by the South Sudan Council of Churches.

Pope Francis has rescheduled his long-awaited visit to South Sudan from Feb 3rd to 5th, 2023.

During a press conference at the South Sudan Council of Churches Secretariate in Juba, the Apostolic Nunciature (Holy See-Vatican Embassy) in South Sudan announced that the Papal will make the announced Apostolic Journey to the Democratic Republic of Congo from Jan 31st to Feb 3rd, 2023, visiting Kinshasa, together with the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, His Holiness Pope Francis will proceed with Ecumenical Pilgrimage of Peace to Juba, South Sudan, from 3rd to 5th February.

The Ecumenical Pilgrimage of Peace to South Sudan, scheduled for July 2022, was called off due to a persistent knee ailment. In a statement released by the Vatican Press, the call off of the twin trip to Africa was at the Doctors request.

The eminent Global leaders are expected to arrive at Juba International Airport on Feb 3rd, 2023, at 15:00, followed by a Courtesy visit to the president of the Republic at the presidential palace, meeting with the vice president of the Republic, and finalizing the first day of the visit with meeting with Authorities, civil society, and the Diplomatic Corps.

In between the three-day visit to South Sudan, Ponfitt is expected to meet with the clergy, and Internally Displaced Persons, together with the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, will hold an ecumenical prayer at John Garang Mausoleum at 18:00 on the Feb 4th, 2023.

The minister of Presidential Affairs, Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin Bil, said the government is delighted that His Holiness the Pope is coming to Juba at last. “This is great news for the government and the people of South Sudan’’. He lamented. The government will do all that they can in order to make a safe visit of His Holiness the Pope, together with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr.

Welby, as well as the Moderator General of the Presbyterian of Church of Scotland…..’’ He added.

Meanwhile, The Most. Rev. Dr. Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla urged the government to provide and improve security for the faithful from the states to attend this Apostolic Journey.