Pope to visit South Sudan

Pope Francis has made a surprise announcement saying he wants to make a trip to famine-struck, war-torn South Sudan, but not on his own. He wants the head of the Anglican Church, Justin Welby to come too.

Francis made the disclosure in impromptu comments during a visit to Rome’s Anglican church, the first to the parish by a pope, to mark the 200th anniversary of its opening.

The pope said the trip would likely last just one day, which Vatican sources have said would be for security reasons. Francis gave no indication when it could take place but sources have said it would be this year.

“My aides and I are studying the possibility of a trip to South Sudan,” the pope said in response to a question about Christian Churches in Africa.