Pope Francis again expected on the African continent

Pope Francis greets the children of the Saint-Sauveur refugee camp in Bangui, during his visit to the CAR in November 2015. REUTERS / Stefano Rellandini

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The Vatican confirmed on Thursday that the sovereign pontiff will visit the Democratic Republic of Congo and then South Sudan from July 2 to 7.

Two countries that the Pope has wanted to visit for a long time.

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With our correspondent in Rome,

It is first in Kinshasa then in Goma that François is expected, from July 2 to 5.

The pope will follow in the footsteps of his predecessor John Paul II, who visited the country, then called Zaire, in 1980 and 1985. He was notably welcomed there by one of his relatives, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, the Archbishop of Kinshasa whom he appointed to the Council of Cardinals responsible for helping him in his reform of the Vatican Curia.

He also comes to support a Congolese Church which played an essential mediating role during the last political transition in the country.

Second step for Francis, South Sudan, a country whose destiny he has followed since the beginning of his pontificate.

The pope will be in Juba from July 5 to 7.

The Holy See is closely following the peace negotiations in the country, which have stalled several times.

Symbol of this attention, this visit of Salva Kiir and his rival Riek Machar to the residence of the pope in April 2019. In front of them, Francis then recalled " 

" of the people of South Sudan .

.

In an unprecedented gesture, the pope had kissed the feet of his two guests.

This step will also be ecumenical for the head of the Catholic Church since he will go there alongside Justin Welby, the primate of the Anglican Church.

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