Written by: Valentina di Giorgio
(ZENIT News / Vatican City, 12.06.2022).- Addressing some 20,000 pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter’s Square to pray the Angelus and to hear his Sunday allocution, the Holy Father apologized to the Authorities and to the people of the Congo and of South Sudan for postponing his trip for reasons of health.
“[. . .] I wish to address the people and the Authorities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and of South Sudan. Dear friends, with great regret, due to the problems of my leg, I’ve had to postpone my visit to your countries, planned for the first days of July. I really feel great regret for having to postpone this trip, which means a lot to me. I apologize to you. Let us pray together so that, with God’s help and the medical care, I will be able to visit you as soon as possible. Let’s trust it will be so!”
The Holy Father referred again to Ukraine. He said, specifically: “My thought for the people of Ukraine, afflicted by the war, is always alive in my heart. May the passage of time not cool our pain and concern for this martyred people. Please, let’s not get used to this tragic reality! Let’s carry it always in our heart. Let’s pray and fight for peace.”
Finally, recalling that this June 12, the World Day against Child Labour is observed, he said:
Observed today is the World Day against Child Labour. Let’s all work to eliminate this scourge, so that no boy or girl is deprived of his/her fundamental rights and is obliged to work. The exploitation of minors for work is a tragic reality that challenges us all!”
The cancellation of the trip to the Congo and South Sudan , scheduled for early July, leads one to think of a very possible cancellation of the trip to Canada planned for the end of the month. The reason is the same: the Pope’s deficient state of health.
