Pope cancels procession appearance but plans Mass for Congolese on July 3

Pope Francis delivers his speech as he recites the Regina Coeli noon prayer from the window of his studio overlooking St Peter’s Square, at the Vatican, Sunday June 12 2022 (Andrew Medichini/AP)

Pope Francis has cancelled his participation in a religious procession this weekend due to ongoing knee pain – but said he hopes to celebrate a special Mass for Italy’s Congolese community after he had to postpone his planned visit to Africa.

“We’ll bring Kinshasa to St Peter’s,” Francis told a group of missionary priests, the White Fathers, during an audience on Monday.