Pope in Africa: One of his most successful journeys

As a rule, the Pope returns from his trips with a bag of warm words, but without any concrete promises. It’s different this time, thinks Jorg Seisselberg. The eyes of the world were once again directed to Africa through Francis.

How is the success of a papal trip measured? By the number of people who mobilized the respective visits? Then Francis’ trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan was one of the most successful of his pontificate. More than a million people followed the fair in Kinshasa. Hundreds of thousands lined the streets on the journeys from the airports to the respective cities. In Africa, people see hope in the Church in general and in Pope Francis in particular. This is another reason why the number of Catholics in Africa is increasing in contrast to Europe.

Or is the success of a papal mission measured more by how the head of the Catholic Church reaches people with his substantive messages? Here, too, there is no doubt that this was also successful. The chanting of “Pas de corruption” – no corruption – called out by young people at Mass in Kinshasa at the request of the Pope should still be ringing in the ears of political leaders in the Congo.

Concrete commitments in South Sudan

Or is it then the concrete results that decide whether a papal trip has made a difference? Here, too, and this is rather unusual, the balance of the visit is positive. As a rule, the pope returns with a bag of warm words, but without any concrete promises. This time it’s different. In South Sudan, the president has now publicly assured that peace talks with the rebel groups would be resumed. What comes out of it at the end remains to be seen. But it is finally a concrete approach to launch a new peace process in South Sudan.

The question remains, what effect did the outward journey have? Because – in addition to the hoped-for impetus in the respective countries – the visit to two of the countries most stricken by war and poverty should ensure that the world’s eyes turn to Africa again. So that the wars and the sometimes unbelievable suffering in these countries are noticed again. The atrocities, the torture, the mutilations and the murders, which the Pope was told about during the trip in details that were sometimes difficult to bear. May the world not forget the fate of nine million people who lost their homes due to war in Congo and South Sudan alone tomorrow.

In this fight against being pushed aside and looking the other way, the pope has done his duty over the past six days. This trip was one of the most successful in recent years for a number of reasons. The Pope has shown that he really cares about Africa. Now it is up to the political leaders, not least in neighboring Europe, to do the same as Francis. The cry from Africa for respect and help these days was loud enough.