Pope Francis lighted on Tuesday, in the early afternoon, at Kinshasa airport, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The pope is in the country for a four-day visit, before heading to South Sudan.
Francis, smiling, on the tarmac of the international airport of Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo: these are the first images of the pope’s visit to the DRC which begins this Tuesday, January 31, and is due to last four days. His plane, which left Tuesday morning from Rome, landed shortly after 3:30 p.m. local time. As the aircraft descended, the pope, in a wheelchair due to his health problems, was greeted by Congolese Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde Kyenge.
The crowd began to gather in the morning around the airport to celebrate the arrival of the sovereign pontiff. After a welcome ceremony at the airport, François must go to the Palais de la Nation, in the Congolese capital, to be received by President Félix Tshisekedi. A speech is then planned in front of the authorities, the diplomatic corps, and representatives of civil society. In a country plagued by conflict in the East, the words of the head of the Catholic Church are particularly awaited.
On Tuesday evening, thousands of people are expected to gather at Ndolo airport for a prayer vigil ahead of Wednesday morning mass. One million worshipers are expected there.