JUBA, FEBRUARY 1ST 2023 (SUDANS POST) – South Sudan on Wednesday started deploying over 5,000 joint security forces on the streets of Juba head of Pope Francis’s visit on Friday.
Addressing reporters during a press briefing at the police headquarters in Juba on Wednesday, Maj. Gen. Daniel Justin, Police Spokesman said the forces will be deployed at Juba International Airport, and places of worship.
“The joint forces will be deployed at Juba International Airport, Dr. John Garang Mausoleum, Freedom Hall, St. Theresa Cathedral, Emmanuel Parish, and Jebel Church to secure security during the visit of Pope Francis,” Gen. Justin said.
Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, SSPDF spokesperson said the joint security will protect members of the public and Pope Francis during his two-day visit,
“Those that will be on active duty, we have 5,000 and the rest are on standby at their respective places, so the entire organized forces are on high alert for any additional task that might be required,” Gen. Lul said.
Pope Francis, Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and Moderator General of the Church of Scotland Rt. Rev. Dr. Iain Greenshields are expected to arrive in Juba on Friday, February 3rd, 2023 after a two days papal visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In July, the papal visit was called off due to a persistent knee ailment that confined Pope Francis to a wheelchair.
The 86-year-old pontiff has made several visits to Africa since becoming pope in 2013, but this is his first visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan.
On February 3, the pontiff with the Archbishop and the Moderator-General will meet and greet the presidency and foreign diplomats.
He will then retire to his Vatican residence while his accompanying delegation will be taken to the Raddison Blu hotel late in the afternoon.
On February 4, the Pope will lead a prayer vigil with Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, and the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland Rev Iain Greenshields.
The Pope will pray at Saint Theresa in Kator, the Archbishop of Canterbury will go to pray at All Saints Cathedral and the Moderator-General will go to the Presbyterian Church in Jebel.
After the morning prayers, they will meet internally displaced persons at Freedom Hall in the afternoon, before moving to Dr. John Garang Mausoleum for public prayers at 6 PM.
This is where tens of thousands of people are expected to gather for a glimpse of the Holy See.
On February 5, in the morning, people will also be assembling at the Mausoleum for a final mass, and after the mass, Pope Francis, together with the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Moderator-General of the Church of Scotland will depart South Sudan.