Survivors of conflict to meet Pope in DRCongo

The Pope’s long-awaited visit to Congo and South Sudan next week comes after he postponed an earlier trip late last year. Francis is due to arrive in the Congolese capital Kinshasa on Jan. 31 for a three-day visit.

When it was originally scheduled for July, the trip was supposed to include a stop in Goma, the capital of North Kivu. An estimated 2 million Congolese are expected at the Mass at Kinshasa airport on February 1, which Balestrero said would make it the largest crowd event in Congo's recent history.