Pope Francis' trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan will highlight the long-running conflicts in both countries and the rising importance of Africa to the future of the Catholic Church.
Bystanders look on as Pope Francis travels by popemobile as he departs the airport in the Democratic Republic of Congo.on a hugely anticipated trip, followed by a visit to South Sudan.
Both countries have large Catholic populations and have suffered from long, violent conflicts, which the pope's visit is expected to spotlight. Several thousands in the DRC have been making their way to the capital Kinshasa to catch a glimpse of Pope Francis.It's the first papal visit since 1985, to the country where almost half of the 95 million people are Catholics.. Africa is the fastest-growing location for theremains under-represented in Vatican leadership.
In Kinshasa, the pope is scheduled to conduct masses and meet numerous groups, victims of violence, and attempt to lift the country's spirits.Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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