Statement by the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni

Accepting the invitation of their respective Heads of State and Bishops, His Holiness Pope Francis will make the announced Apostolic Journey to the Democratic Republic of Congo from 31 January to 3 February 2023, visiting the city of Kinshasa, and, together with the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Ecumenical Pilgrimage of Peace to Juba, South Sudan, from 3 to 5 February next.

Programme

Tuesday, 31 January 2023
ROME – KINSHASA
07:55 Departure by airplane from Rome/Fiumicino International Airport to Kinshasa
15:00 Arrival at Kinshasa “Ndjili” International Airport
15:00 OFFICIAL WELCOME
16:30 WELCOME CEREMONY at the “Palais de la Nation”
16:45 COURTESY VISIT TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC in the “Salle Présidentielle” of the “Palais de la Nation”
17:30 MEETING WITH AUTHORITIES, CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS in the garden of the “Palais de la
Nation” – Address of the Holy Father

Wednesday, 1 February 2023
KINSHASA
09:30 HOLY MASS at “Ndolo” Airport  – Homily of the Holy Father
16:30 MEETING WITH VICTIMS FROM THE EASTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY at the Apostolic Nunciature – Address of the Holy
Father
18:30 MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM SOME CHARITIES at the Apostolic Nunciature – Address of the Holy Father

Thursday, 2 February 2023
KINSHASA
09:30 MEETING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AND CATECHISTS in Martyrs’ Stadium – Address of the Holy Father
16:30 PRAYER MEETING WITH PRIESTS, DEACONS, CONSECRATED PERSONS AND SEMINARIANS in the Cathedral “Notre Dame du Congo” – Address of the Holy Father
18:30 PRIVATE MEETING WITH MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS at the Apostolic Nunciature

Friday, 3 February 2023
KINSHASA – JUBA
08:30 MEETING WITH BISHOPS at CENCO  – Address of the Holy Father
10:10 FAREWELL CEREMONY at Kinshasa “Ndjili” International Airport
10:40 Departure by airplane from Kinshasa “Ndjili” International