DRC: Congolese people will wait for the Pope to visit.

Stanislas Kambashi, SJ - Vatican City

Following the postponement of Pope Francis’ apostolic voyage to the DRC, the Congolese Government said they would continue to “firmly await” the Holy Father’s visit.

Government and the people will wait

Government spokesperson and Minister of Communication and Media Patrick Muyaya wished the Holy Father a speedy recovery.

“In the meantime, on behalf of the Congolese people, the Government wishes Pope Francis a speedy recovery. We want to reassure him that the Democratic Republic of Congo will continue to firmly await his visit, which was at the invitation of His Excellency the President of the Republic, Felix Tshilombo Tshisekedi. The Pope was scheduled to come under the banner of peace and reconciliation in Jesus Christ,” said Muyaya.

Pope postponed the trip due to health reasons

The Holy See Press Office announced Friday that Pope Francis had postponed the Apostolic Journey to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan due to health reasons. The visit has been postponed to a date yet to be determined.

According to Matteo Bruni, the director of the Holy See Press Office, the postponement was requested by the Holy Father’s doctors.

“At the request of his doctors, and in order not to jeopardize the results of the therapy that he is undergoing for his knee, the Holy Father has been forced to postpone, with regret, his Apostolic Journey to the Democratic Republic of Congo and to South Sudan, planned for 2 to 7 July, to a later date to be determined.”