Pope Francis Apologises For Canceling Trip To DRC, South Sudan Due To Knee Problem

Pope Francis on Sunday apologized to the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan for having to cancel his visit due to his health problems, reported Africa News. He said he was hopeful his condition would improve.

While addressing the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square, the pope said he felt great sorrow after canceling his trip due to his knee and leg-related problems. He said the July 2-7 trip to Congo and South Sudan.

The Pope suggested he is optimistic about the trip and asked the faithful to join him in praying for the trip to take place as soon as possible.

On Friday, the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, announced the postponement of the Apostolic Journey.

“At the request of his doctors, and in order not to jeopardize the results of the therapy that he is undergoing for his knee, the Holy Father has been forced to postpone, with regret, his Apostolic Journey to the Democratic Republic of Congo and to South Sudan,” Mr. Bruni said.

Pope Francis has been using a wheelchair for about a month due to strained ligaments in his right knee that has made walking and standing difficult and painful. He has refused so far to get surgery, and has instead received injections, kept the knee as immobile as possible, and walked with a cane or the help of an aide.

Francis had been due to visit South Sudan with the Archbishop of Canterbury and the head of the Church of Scotland to make a joint, ecumenical appeal for peace. The trip was long being planned since 2017 but it was getting postponed due to security reasons.

The pope next a six-day trip to Canada from 24 July, and another trip to Kazakhstan in September.  The Vatican statement released on Friday said nothing about that trip.