[Lambeth Palace press release] Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo Feb. 3 for a two-day visit to Anglican leaders in the country. While there the archbishop will witness the work of the Anglican Church in the Congo, especially in peace-building and protecting women from gender-based violence.

Welby is on the last leg of a six-day visit to Anglican leaders in the region, which has also included South Sudan, Rwanda and Burundi.

Welby, who is visiting DRC at the invitation of Archbishop Henri Isingoma, will meet with religious leaders and other community representatives, and visit projects supported by the Anglican Church in the Congo.

Arriving in Goma, Welby said: “I am delighted to be visiting Goma with my wife Caroline to show the love and solidarity of the wider church amidst all you have been through. We pray for stability and a lasting peace for DRC.

“The Anglican Church in the Congo has shown remarkable initiative and resourcefulness in helping communities address the challenges affecting their life. I look forward to seeing some of those initiatives in action, both in the building of a sustainable peace, and the protection of women from gender-based violence and providing of much needed care.

“I wish to pay tribute to Archbishop Henri Isingoma and his wife Madame Mugisa who together have made such a pioneering contribution to this work.”

The trip is part of Welby’s plan to visit all of his fellow archbishops around the Anglican Communion during his first 18 months in office. His desire is to express solidarity, build personal and professional bonds, understand the Primates’ work in their local contexts, and lay foundations for good collaboration over the coming years.