Ahead of the visit of Pope Francis, the Vatican 'Technical Advanced Team' is in Juba, South Sudan, to assess preparations for the Papal visit which will take place from February 3 to 5, reports indicate.

Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla, Metropolitan Archbishop of Juba on Tuesday, January 24, said almost 90% of the work that is supposed to be done ahead of the visit is complete.

Explaining the purpose of the visit, Bert van Megen, Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya and South Sudan, said: "We are here with the advance team of the Vatican who comes to check on the ground how the preparation are going for the visit of the Holy Father who will be coming here on an Ecumenical pilgrimage with the Archbishop to Canterbury and the Moderator of the Church of Scotland.

"So, the visit is going to take place very soon. In fact in 10 days’ time the Holy Father will be landing here in Juba together with the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Moderator."

Pope Francis is set to travel to DR Congo and South Sudan at the end of January – a visit the pontiff was earlier forced to postpone due to health issues.

The pontiff will visit the DR Congo from January 31 to February 5 for an ecumenical peace pilgrimage.

He will spend two days in South Sudan before returning to the Vatican.