Pope Francis lands at Juba International Airport. February 3, 2025. (Photo: Eye Radio.
On this day in February 2023, the blue Papal plane carrying Pope Francis touched down at Juba International Airport in South Sudan as the pontiff fulfilled his long-awaited ecumenical pilgrimage promise to the world’s youngest nation.
Francis descended the plane stairs on his wheelchair before shaking hands with President Salva Kiir. A group of children presented doves to the Pope who let it fly before walking with President Kiir on a red carpet.
The road leading to the airport and other streets were lined with thousands of people including Christians, Muslims and traditional dancers waving different posters and flags – with others wearing T-shirts with a portrait of the pope.
He would then head to the Presidential Palace to meet the country’s leaders; President Kiir, his five deputies, diplomatic corps, and civil society groups.
The next day, Francis met with bishops, priests, nuns, and seminarians at the Cathedral of St. Theresa in Juba, before meeting internally displaced persons at Freedom Hall later in the day.
He then participated in an ecumenical prayer service at the John Garang Mausoleum and on Sunday, February 5, presided at the Eucharist at the John Garang Mausoleum.
Francis visited together with the Archbishop Welby and Moderator General of Scottish Church – to encourage political leaders to implement the 2018 peace process and to draw attention to the continued conflicts and a worsening humanitarian crisis.
He traveled to South Sudan from Congo, where he had a final appointment in Kinshasa with Congo’s bishops and held a large mass at a stadium where he encouraged young people to work for a peaceful and honest future.
Thousands attend the ecumenical prayers led by Pope Francis and the two eminent faith leaders on Saturday. (Photo: Lou Nelson/Eye Radio).
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