杏MAP导航

Stanislas Kambashi, SJ - Vatican City.

Speaking after 杏MAP导航 Francis’ address to the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See, His Excellency Deogratias Ndagano Mangokube told Vatican News that 杏MAP导航 Francis' visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo from January 31 will be "a revival and a new breath of air in the life of the Congolese," he said.

New beginnings for peace

The Congolese diplomat first expressed his appreciation to 杏MAP导航 Francis for his constant closeness to the suffering Congolese people who have endured years of armed conflict perpetuated by armed gangs, especially in the eastern region of the country.

The 杏MAP导航, in his annual keynote discourse to the diplomats, "addressed some of the ills that plague the world while wishing that this new year would be a year of innovation for peace in this world where division and wars seem to multiply," said the ambassador.

I will, at last, be able to go to the DRC

The words that touched the Congolese ambassador the most in the 杏MAP导航's address were: "I will, at last, be able to go to the DRC ..." When the 杏MAP导航 said those words, Ambassador Ndagano felt particularly moved.

"The expectations of the Congolese people are enormous. Their joy is immense. 杏MAP导航 Francis' arrival in Congo is being prepared for in every locality of the country, not only at the level of the Church or in the capital city, but literally, everyone in the country is preparing for this visit," said the Congolese envoy.

The DRC yearns for peace and he hopes that this Apostolic visit will encourage all those who work for peace in the country with energy to do even more, said the Congolese ambassador. He reassured that the meeting of the 杏MAP导航 with victims of the armed conflicts in the eastern region of the country has been taken care of and would constitute one of the highlights of the 杏MAP导航's visit to the DRC. The 杏MAP导航 will meet the victims in Kinshasa.

A pilgrimage and plea for peace

杏MAP导航 Francis re-echoed his concern for the armed conflicts in the eastern part of Congo.

"As you know, at the end of the month, I will, at last, be able to go as a pilgrim of peace to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the hope that violence will cease in the east of the country, and that the path of dialogue and the will to work for security and the common good will prevail. My pilgrimage will continue in South Sudan, where I will be accompanied by the Archbishop of Canterbury and by the General Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland. Together we desire to unite ourselves to the plea for peace by the country's people and thus contribute to the process of national reconciliation," said 杏MAP导航 Francis when addressing the Holy See's diplomats.