Pope Francis, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland have apologised to

Christians in South Sudan, saying their “disappointed” they could not visit next week as scheduled. 

The trio were due to tour South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of a peace-building trip.

The visit has already been postponed multiple times, due to the pandemic and the worsening warfare. 

This time, it was the Pope’s health that put a spanner in the works.

Pope Francis has been confined to a wheelchair and is awaiting a knee operation. 

All three Christian leaders sent a video message expressing their disappointment. 

Archbishop Justin reflected on his 2014 visit, saying: “You’re full of great vibrancy, courage, resilience. You are children of God, seen by God, chosen by God, called by God.” 

“Yet, I see and know that you have suffered. I see the floods that endanger your homes. I see the famine that makes each day a struggle.

And I see the violence that overshadows all of life. Many of you cannot return to your homes. God sees and know that. God’s heart of compassion is moved by your struggles.”

Pope Francis said: “"Today I had planned to come on a pilgrimage of peace and reconciliation to the DRC and South Sudan. The Lord knows how greatly disappointed I am to have had to postpone this long-awaited and much-desired visit."