by Philip Pullella
ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE, January 31 (Reuters) – Pope Francis flew on Tuesday as part of a visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to highlight the consequences of the protracted conflicts and the exploitation of the mineral wealth of this vast country of Central Africa, before going to South Sudan.
The 86-year-old pontiff, who is expected to land in the capital Kinshasa around 2 p.m. GMT, will meet President Felix Tshisekedi and deliver a speech to authorities, diplomats and civil society representatives.
On Wednesday, he will celebrate mass and meet victims in the east of the country, marked by recurrent fighting between the rebels of the M23 group and government troops.
‘I wanted to go to Goma but it won’t be possible because of the war’ in the region, the pope told reporters during his flight, referring to an eastern DRC town he had originally planned to visit.
As his plane flew over the Sahara, the pope took the opportunity to discuss the plight of African migrants who cross the desert to try to reach Europe.
“Let us stop for a moment in silence, in thought, in prayer for all those people who, in search of a little well-being, a little freedom, have gone through it but have not left. out,” he said.
The last papal visit to the DRC dates back to John Paul II, in 1985, when the country was called Zaire.
Pope Francis will stay in Kinshasa until Friday, before traveling to Juba, capital of South Sudan, where he will stay until February 5.
(With contributions from Justin Makangara, Benoit Nyemba, Sonia Rolley, Stanis Bujakera and Paul Lorgerie, written by Estelle Shirbon, French version Dina Kartit, edited by Kate Entringer)
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