His Holiness Pope Francis, the head of Catholic Church, will visit South Sudan from Feb. 3 to Feb. 5, 2023.
According to Information Minister Michael Makuei, Pope Francis will arrive at Juba International Airport at 10:00 AM where he will be received by President Salva Kiir Mayardit, First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and other senior government officials.
He will proceed to the presidency for a meeting with President Kiir, FVP Machar, senior government officials and diplomats before going to where he will stay for the duration of the visit.
On February 4, Pope Francis will visit St. Theresa Cathedral in Juba after which he will then visit Freedom Hall where he will meet the displaced persons from the Juba POCs.
On February 5, Pope Francis will lead a mass prayer at Dr. John Garang De Mabior Mausoleum before leaving the country in the afternoon.
It is not the first time the Pope has said he wants to visit the Republic of South Sudan. In 2017, he hoped to make an ecumenical visit to the country along with the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. The trip had to be called off because of security reasons.
South Sudan gained independence in 2011, becoming the world’s newest country, but has faced a series of challenges since then, including an ongoing civil war between government and opposition forces.
