Pope arrives in DR Congo on 'beautiful trip' to Africa

Attendees gather ahead of the arrival of Pope Francis for the mass at the N'Dolo Airport in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), on February 1, 2023. PHOTO/ AFP

Pope Francis (C) arrives by popemobile for the mass at the N'Dolo Airport in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), on February 1, 2023. PHOTO / AFP

People gathering on the side of the road wave as Pope Francis departs the N'djili International Airport in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), on January 31, 2023. 

Pope Francis (C) arrives by popemobile for the mass at the N'Dolo Airport in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), on February 1, 2023. PHOTO / AFP

Pope Francis reacts as he is welcomed by children at the N'djili International Airport in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), on January 31, 2023. PHOTO/VATICAN MEDIA

Pope Francis (C-L) stands next to President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Felix Tshisekedi (C-R) at the Palais de la Nation in Kinshasa, DRC, on January 31, 2023. PHOTO/AFP

Pope Francis (C) waves to people gathering on the side of the road as he departs the N'djili International Airport in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), on January 31, 2023. PHOTO/AFP

Bystanders look on as Pope Francis travels by popemobile as he departs the N'djili International Airport in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), on January 31, 2023. PHOTO/AFP
 

Pope Francis (C), seated on a wheelchair, gestures as he arrives at the N'djili International Airport in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), on January 31, 2023. PHOTO/VATICAN MEDIA

Pope Francis (R), seated on a wheelchair, arrives at the N'djili International Airport in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), on January 31, 2023. PHOTO/AFP

Pope Francis (2nd R) stands next to Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni (R) while aboard the plane from Rome on January 31, 2023 to Kinshasa for his visit to Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. PHOTO/AFP

Pope Francis greets journalists while aboard the plane from Rome on January 31, 2023 to Kinshasa for his visit to Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. PHOTO/AFP

Pupils from a Catholic school arrive ahead of the arrival of Pope Francis outside the N'djili International Airport in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), on January 31, 2023. PHOTO/AFP

Security officials stand on the tarmac ahead of the arrival of Pope Francis at the N'djili International Airport in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), on January 31, 2023. PHOTO/AFP

Scouts wait ahead of the arrival of Pope Francis outside the N'djili International Airport in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), on January 31, 2023. PHOTO/AFP

Christian women sing ahead of the arrival of Pope Francis outside the N'djili International Airport in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), on January 31, 2023. PHOTO/AFP

People gather next to the road to greet Pope Francis after he arrived at the N'djili International Airport in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), on January 31, 2023. PHOTO/AFP

Pope Francis (C), seated on a wheelchair, waves as he arrives at the N'djili International Airport in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), on January 31, 2023. PHOTO/AFP

Police officers clear the road as Pope Francis departs the N'djili International Airport in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), on January 31, 2023. PHOTO/AFP

People run on the road to get a glimpse of Pope Francis after he arrived at the N'djili International Airport in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), on January 31, 2023. PHOTO/AFP

A crew member of Radio-Télévision nationale congolaise (RTNC), the national broadcaster of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), sets up equipment ahead of the arrival of Pope Francis at the N'djili International Airport in Kinshasa, DRC, on January 31, 2023. PHOTO/AFP

Workers prepare a marquee ahead of the arrival of Pope Francis at the N'djili International Airport in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), on January 31, 2023. PHOTO/AFP

Crew members of Radio-Télévision nationale congolaise (RTNC), the national broadcaster of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), set up equipment ahead of the arrival of Pope Francis at the N'djili International Airport in Kinshasa, DRC, on January 31, 2023. PHOTO/AFP

An Airbus A350-900 bearing the ITA Airways livery takes off on January 31, 2023 from Rome's Fiumicino airport, transporting the Pope heading to Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. PHOTO/AFP

Pope Francis sits in his plane (R) prior to take off on January 31, 2023 at Rome's Fiumicino airport, heading to Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. PHOTO/AFP

Pope Francis gestures as he sits in a platform to be lifted to board his plane on January 31, 2023 at Rome's Fiumicino airport, heading to Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. PHOTO/AFP

Pope Francis, seated on a wheelchair, is lifted on a platform to board his plane on January 31, 2023 at Rome's Fiumicino airport, heading to Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. PHOTO/AFP

An Airbus A350-900 aircraft bearing the ITA Airways livery is pictured on January 31, 2023 at Rome's Fiumicino airport, prior to the Pope's arrival to board it using a platform (L), heading to Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. PHOTO/AFP

Pope Francis arrives by car on the tarmac of Rome's Fiumicino airport on January 31, 2023 to board a plane heading to Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. PHOTO/AFP