SW News: The Holy Father Pope Francis received a cordial welcome at Kinshasa’s N'djili International Airport on Tuesday, January 31, as he began his 40th Apostolic Visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The ITA Airways flight carrying the pontiff landed at 2.33 pm local time. The pope, who was in a wheelchair, was welcomed by Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde Kyenge on the tarmac. A young Congolese boy and girl received the Supreme Head of the Catholic Church in the traditional manner with a bouquet and a flag.

Greeting members of the military top brass, the pope was taken to the terminal where with the help of a translator he shared some light moments with the prime minister, who introduced him to the Cabinet members. They in turn greeted the pontiff one by one. They were all given rosaries by the Holy Father. Later, it was the turn of the Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and other top-ranking Holy See officials to greet the PM. Also present at the ceremony was Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, the Apostolic Nuncio.

Gathered at the terminal were Congolese Cardinal  Fridolin Ambongo and several archbishops and bishops and officials of the nunciature. Apart from Cardinal Parolin, the pope was accompanied by  Prefect of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Christian Unity Cardinal Kurt Koch, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States within the Holy See's Secretariat of State; and Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples among others. The pontiff was also accompanied by a contingent of journalists.

After the ceremony at the terminal, the Holy Father was taken to the Palais de la Nation in the capital where he will be given an official welcome after which he will pay a courtesy visit to President Felix Tshisekedi in the Salle Presidentielle. Later, he will address members of civil society and the diplomatic corps.