Pope Francis still ‘determined’ to visit South Sudan

JUBA – Pope Francis is still determined to visit the world’s youngest country, two weeks after a knee problem resulted in the indefinite postponement of his planned trip to South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo which would have happened this week, a Vatican official in Juba said.

Vatican’s Charge de’ Affaires said the Vatican has delegated His Eminence Pietro Parolin, the Secretary General of the Vatican, to visit South Sudan on behalf of Pope Francis while the pontiff’s trip is being prepared.

“We have good news, that the Holy Father will send his Secretary of State that is the Prime Minister of the Vatican to come to Juba to show his closeness to the people of South Sudan in preparation for his forthcoming visit,” Ionut Paul Strejac told reporters Friday, according to The City Review.

“The Holy Father is determined to come to South Sudan and he reiterated this a couple of times during these three weeks since the announcement of the postponement,” the Vatican diplomat further added.