Pope’s Messages “will change something in the politics of South Sudan”: DR Congo Pilgrim

Pope Francis arrived in Kinshasa on January 31 afternoon, the first leg of his Apostolic journey to the capital cities of DRC and South Sudan in what was the realization of his previously postponed trip to the two African nations that the Vatican confirmed on December 1.

In Kinshasa, in line with the program and itinerary that the Vatican had unveiled, the Holy Father interacted with DRC authorities, victims of the conflict in the Eastern part of the country and representatives of charitable organizations, presided over Holy Mass, me with young people, Catholic Bishops, and selected members of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in the Central Africa Province.

On February 3, Pope Francis met 57 of the 74 current and retired Catholic Bishops of the DRC at the headquarters of CENCO before leaving for South Sudan for the second leg of his two African nation trip.

Credit: Vatican Media

In the February 5 interview with ACI Africa, Fr. Okello said, “From our area, Kinshasa is very far. It's around 2,000 kilometers. That's why, as we are on the border of South Sudan, we chose to come here.”

The member of the Clergy of DRC’s Mahagi-Nioka Catholic Diocese that borders the Catholic Diocese of Yei in South Sudan added, “We are 68 people, among them we have 23 Priests. We are from different Dioceses.”

Fr. Okello expressed solidarity with the people of God in South Sudan, saying, “We are very happy to be in South Sudan and to be together with the South Sudanese people.”

“We are happy because we came from different sides to share together with the Pope and to listen to him,” the Congolese Catholic Priest explained during the February 5 interview with ACI Africa just before the Papal Mass.

Credit: ACI Africa

Fr. Okello was among other Congolese pilgrims who traveled to Juba on January 31 from South Sudan’s Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio (CDTY).

The Local Ordinary of CDTY, Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala, confirmed the presence of Congolese pilgrims in South Sudan ahead of the ecumenical visit.

“These pilgrims are close to us and most of them could not attend the event in Kinshasa that’s why we are going with them to Juba,” Bishop Hiiboro said.

The South Sudanese Catholic Bishop shared about the number of Congolese pilgrims.

“We are taking only two hundred people to Juba due to lack of transport,” he said, and added, “The rest will pray here in Yambio when the Holy Father will be presiding over the Mass in Juba.”

Pope Francis concluded his third trip to Sub-Saharan Africa on February 5 after presiding over Holy Mass at Dr. John Garang Mausoleum, with over 100,000 people in attendance.

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In his final remarks after the Eucharistic celebration, the Holy Father said, “I have now come to the end of this pilgrimage among you, and I want to express my gratitude for the warm welcome given me and for all the work done to prepare for this visit, which was a fraternal visit of three.”

He acknowledged with appreciation the sacrifices of the pilgrims.

He said, “I am grateful to all of you, brothers and sisters, who have come here in great numbers from various places, spending many hours, if not days, on the road!”

“I thank you for the affection you have shown me, but also for your faith and your patience, for the good you do and the hardships that you willingly offer to God without growing discouraged but continuing to move forward.”

The Holy Father highlighted the contribution of South Sudan to the universal Church and the close ties it has with Sudan.

“South Sudan possesses a courageous Church, with close ties to the Church in Sudan, as the Archbishop noted in referring to Saint Josephine Bakhita, a great woman who by God’s grace transformed into hope all the sufferings that she endured.”

He made reference to remarks that the late Pope Benedict XVI made about St. Bakhita in his 30 November 2007 Encyclical Letter, Spe Salvi, addressed to the Bishops, Priests and Deacons, men and women Religious, and all the Lay faithful on Christian hope.

“The hope born in her which had ‘redeemed’ her she could not keep to herself; this hope had to reach many, to reach everybody”, Pope Francis said February 5 quoting his immediate predecessor who died on the eve of the New Year 2023.

Pope Francis continued, “Hope is the word I would leave with each of you, as a gift to share, a seed to bear fruit.”

“As Saint Josephine reminds us, women, especially here, are a sign of hope, and in a special way I thank and bless all the women of the country,” he said amid loud celebratory cheers from the thousands of pilgrims, adding, “To hope, I would associate another word, the word that has echoed in these days: peace.”

“I came here with my brothers Justin and Iain, whom I sincerely thank; the three of us jointly will continue to accompany your steps and do all we can to make them steps of peace, steps to peace,” the Holy Father said.

Credit: ACI Africa

He continued, “I would like to entrust this path of the entire people together with the three of us, this path of reconciliation and peace, to another woman. She is our most loving Mother Mary, Queen of Peace. She has accompanied us with her caring and quiet presence.”

“We pray to her now, and we entrust to her the cause of peace in South Sudan and in the entire African continent. To Our Lady we also entrust peace in our world, especially in the many countries at war, like Ukraine, which suffers so greatly,” Pope Francis said before leaving for Juba international airport and departing to Rome.

“Dear brothers and sisters, the three of us are returning to our own homes, with you even closer to our hearts. Let me repeat: you are in our hearts, you are in our hearts, you are in the hearts of Christians worldwide! Never lose hope. And lose no opportunity to build peace,” he said.

Pope Francis implored, “May hope and peace dwell among you. May hope and peace dwell in South Sudan!”