Pope Francis picks representative for Juba’s visit

The planned visit by Pope Francis to South Sudan in July is still on.

The Pontiff was supposed to personally tour Juba between July 5 and 7 but the visit was postponed due to a knee injury that has confined him to a wheelchair for a couple of months.

The visit, however, will still take place, on the planned date, only that the head of the catholic will be represented by the Italian cardinal.

Cardinla Pietro Parolin, 67, will be the Pope’s representative for a two-day official visit to Juba.

“I have been directed by his grace archbishop Stephen Ameyu M. Mulla, archbishop of Juba, to officially announce the visit of his Eminence Pietro Cardinal Parolin, the secretary of state at the Vatican, scheduled to take place, Tuesday, 5 of July through 7th of July, 2022.

“He comes as Palpal delegate to South Sudan in the days of the aforementioned.

“I request this official announcement to be ever put without fail to wider circulation beginning with Sunday 26, June 2022 at all the 18 parishes and numerous archdiocese of Juba,” said a statement signed by Fr Nicholas Kiri, Vicar general, Catholic Archdiocese of Juba.

Kiri added the Pope’s representative will conduct mass on Thursday, 7 of July at Dr John Garang Mausoleum at 10 am.

It was not yet clear whether Parolin will also meet other political leaders and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) as was to be the case with the Pope.

Cardinal Pietro also doubled up as the Vatican’s Secretary of state since October 2013. He has also served as a member of the Council of Cardinals Advisers since July 2014.

Pietero was perhaps picked by the Vatican because of his vast experience in African affairs. He has previously served in the diplomatic service of the Holy See for 30 years, including terms in Nigeria, Mexico and Venezuela.

Parolin was ordained on 27 April 1980 by Arnoldo Onisto and later consecrated in 1990 by Pope Benedict XVI.