JUBA, Feb 5 — Pope Francis wraps up his pilgrimage to South Sudan with an open-air mass today after urging its leaders to focus on bringing peace to the fragile country torn...
JUBA, Feb 5 — Pope Francis wraps up his pilgrimage to South Sudan with an open-air mass today after urging its leaders to focus on bringing peace to the fragile country torn apart by violence and poverty.
The pontiff, who himself tried to broker peace during the civil war, has received a rapturous welcome, with thousands expected to attend the mass at the John Garang mausoleum — built in honour of South Sudan’s rebel hero who died in 2005. “I want to renew my forceful and heartfelt appeal to end all conflict and to resume the peace process in a serious way, so that violence can end and people can return to living in dignity.”With 2.2 million internally displaced people , and another two million outside the country, South Sudan is home to the worst refugee crisis in Africa.John Wiyual, who has lived at a sprawling IDP camp outside Juba since 2014, said he did not trust government assurances that the country is safe.
“It is the first time to see papa in my country. I feel so privileged,” said 36-year-old Adongpiny Harriet, wiping away sweat after she joined an impromptu dance outside the Cathedral of Saint Therese in Juba following the pope’s blessing yesterday. “Future generations will either venerate your names or cancel their memory, based on what you now do,” he told an audience that included Kiir and Machar, as well as diplomats, religious leaders and traditional kings.The pope had promised in 2019 to travel to South Sudan, when he hosted Kiir and Machar at a Vatican retreat and asked them to respect the ceasefire.
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