Africa-Press – South-Sudan. Pope Francis wrapped up his three-day ecumenical visit to South Sudan with a passionate appeal for long-lasting peace, stressing that political stability would help the country break free from conflict, exploitation, and poverty.
As he signed off during the mass yesterday morning at Dr John Garang Mausoleum, the pontiff declared that his heart was still with South Sudan and that the time had come to live the words of encouragement preached in the three-day visit.
“Dear brothers and sisters, I return to Rome with you even closer to my heart. “Let me repeat it: you are in my heart, you are in our hearts, you are in the heart of all Christians worldwide,” Pope said.
“Never lose hope and miss no opportunity to build peace. “May hope and peace dwell among you, may hope and peace dwell in South Sudan,” he added
Before his last prayer service, the Pope had met the country’s leadership led by President Salva Kiir and the vice presidents at the Presidential Palace on Friday, a meeting where he first made his intention for having peaceful country known. In the presence of the members of the diplomatic corps, members of civil society, and local church leaders, the pope said there is no excuse for failing to nail peace.
He urged the political leaders to end the conflict to avoid further bloodshed.
He stated: “Dear President and Vice Presidents, in the name of God to whom we prayed together in Rome, of the God who is gentle and humble in heart (Mt 11:29), the God in whom so many people of this beloved country believe, now is the time to say, no more of this, without “ifs” or “buts.”
“No more bloodshed, no more conflicts, no more violence and mutual recriminations about who is responsible for it; no more leaving your people athirst for peace.” No more destruction. It is time to build. “Leave the time of war behind and let a time of peace dawn!”
The Pope, who traveled with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Justin Welby, and the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Dr Ian Greenshields, said his visit was motivated by his high regard for the country.
“I have come here as a pilgrim of reconciliation in the hope of accompanying you on your journey of peace. “It is a circuitous journey, yet one that can no longer be postponed,” he said.
“We undertook this ecumenical pilgrimage of peace after hearing the plea of an entire people that, with great dignity, weeps for the violence it endures, its persistent lack of security, its poverty, and the natural disasters that it has experienced. Years of war and conflict seem never to end, and even recently there have been bitter clashes.”
The pope lamented the stagnating process of reconciliation, which he said could only be rectified if all the South Sudanese worked in unity to heal the wounds of the country.
Dr. Welby said they came to South Sudan to pray for the people and to encourage the church leaders.
“Remember your wonderful work in building peace and bringing people together. Even today, the acting Bishop of Kajo Keji has gone down after the massacre yesterday to comfort the brave, but we come to listen to the young people, who make up 70 percent of South Sudan. Without listening to their voice, there will be no peace and no reconciliation. And we come to honour the women who have known such terrible suffering.”
‘Walk to the talk’
He urged the South Sudanese leaders to keep the peace commitment they made when they traveled to Rome in 2019.
“When I remember the commitment, you made in 2019 about peace, I am sad that we still hear such tragedy (clashes),” he stated. “We hope for more, you promised more.”
The moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Dr. Iain Greenshields, called on the leaders to be the custodians of peace and ensure that all their actions draw people together.
“We come with humility, unity, and love… “Blessed are the peacemakers,” said Jesus, “and friends of peace. A peace that ensures justice for all: families and nations. “Today, we need that peace,” he said.
The Pope arrived in Juba last Friday from DR Congo to fulfill his visit once mooted in 2017. The ecumenical visit came in the wake of President Kiir’s official announcement for the withdrawal of suspension on Rome Peace Talks.
Source: The City Review South Sudan
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