The Apostolic Nuncio visits North Kivu

The Apostolic  Nuncio His Eminence Luis Mariano Montemayor arrived in Goma on Wednesday 17 February  2016, accompanied by the Special Representative to the Secretary General in the DRC Maman Sidikou,   for  a 4 day visit which will  also take him to the region  Kitchanga where they will visit  amongst others the IDP,  camp and  the Catholic Cathedral .

On arrival at the Goma airport the Apostolic Nuncio Argentin Luis Mariano Montemayor said  his visit  to North Kivu was to sympathize with the  people of the province who have been victims of  insecurity and  all forms of violence in recent months .

His visit is also added was to see for himself the  good and important  work done by MONUSCO on the ground and its staff, for as he put it ‘’the  Vatican considers  very important the presence of MONUSCO in the region  until violence  is ended and the people are physically integrated and reassured.” He appealed on the population of the east of DRC to exercise patience for they have not been forgotten. ‘ I am very optimistic that the new SRSG for MONUSCO will put appropriate measures in place to make the mission more capable to assist the population” he added.

From the Goma airport the Apostolic Nuncio, SRSG and their entourage  paid a courtesy call  to the governor and later visited the new Catholic Cathedral of Kituku and the Buhimba Seminary.

Other  stops on the very charged agenda of the Apostolic Nuncio and MONUSCO SRSG Maman Sidikou  amongst other included the Muzenze prison, meeting with UN Agencies and the IDP camp in Kitchanga.

Another high point on the agenda will be the   briefing on the Protection of Civilians by the North Kivu Brigade and the celebration of a high mass at the Bakanja Cathedral in Goma.

It should be noted however that  this is  the maiden  visit of  his Eminence Mgr Argentin Luis Mariano Montemayor to North Kivu since his appointment  to the DRC by  His  Holiness Pope Francis in June 2015.