Pope traveling to DR Congo for historic visit

The largest Roman Catholic population in Africa’s Democratic Republic of the Congo is where Pope Francis is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday for a three-day visit.

The previous pope, John Paul II, visited the nation while it was still known as Zaire more than 37 years ago.

To allow Catholics to attend a mass led by Pope Francis at Ndolo Airport, the authorities in the nation have declared Wednesday a public holiday in the nation’s capital, Kinshasa.

Prior to his departure, Pope Francis requested prayers for his journey.

The pope will remain in Kinshasa until Friday before traveling to Juba, the capital of South Sudan, where he will be accompanied by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the head of the Anglican Church, and the moderator of the Church of Scotland.

The Catholic leader’s trip to Kinshasa, though, has generated some controversy.

To prepare the roadways for the pope’s visit, some market vendors in the city have been instructed to take down their stalls. Some people feel resentful about this.