Africa-Press – South-Sudan. President Salva Kiir has assured Pope Francis that the country would have credible elections at the end of the transitional period to bury the bouts of violence.
The Head of State made the promise on Tuesday when he met visiting Secretary of Vatican State, His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin, in his office.
‘‘President [Kiir] assured His Holiness’s delegation that the country is ready to hold peaceful, transparent and fair elections. He encouraged with confidence, that even after the elections are held, the people will remain united as South Sudanese and work together for the country’s prosperity,’’ a statement from the State House posted on Facebook read in part.
Cardinal Parolin delivered Pope Francis’ message to the president, calling for peace, unity and reconciliation to be priority for leaders and citizens.
Parolin said that peace and development are intertwined in order and they are ingredients for grassroots growth.
“I am grateful to His Excellency President of South Sudan for receiving me with the delegation of the Holy See. We had a very special conversation with the president of the Republic in which we recalled his visit to the Vatican, and the Holy Father said we have to go forward to achieve unity, peace and reconciliation,” Cardinal Parolin stated.
“In the conversation, he reiterated peace and development because the two are related. Because if there is no peace, there is no possibility to develop the country, there is always a possibility of conflict and violence.”
The Minister for Presidential Affairs, Dr Barnaba Marial Benjamin, stated that the Vatican Secretary of State assured President Salva Kiir of the Pope’s visit any time soon.
“His Eminence the Secretary of State was able to bring the message of His Holy Father the Pope to the President of the Republic and all people of South Sudan, which is unity, peace and reconciliation,” Dr Barnaba said.
“The President of Republic on Behalf of People of South Sudan received the good message. His Eminence, the Secretary of State was also able to assure the President that the Visit of His Holiness the Pope was postponed for health reasons and that there is the possibility that he will get well, and he will be able to come and see people of South Sudan.”
He further held a meeting with the First Vice President, Dr Riek Machar Teny, in his office after which he met bishops at the Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat.
The Secretary of Vatican State, Rome, is said to be the Prime Minister of the Vatican.
Pope Francis delegated him as a forerunner before his visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of South Sudan.
The Cardinal is expected to travel to Unity State’s capital, Bentiu, today to visit the Internally Displaced Persons before his return on July 9, 2022, to conduct a Eucharist Mass at Dr John Garang Mausoleum, as well as the commissioning of the Vatican Embassy’s new building.
He was received yesterday at Juba International Airport by a government delegation led by the Senior Presidential Advisor, Gen Kuol Manyang Juuk, and the Minister for Defense and Veteran Affairs, Angelina Teny.
Call for peace
He stated that Pope Francis was concerned about the people of South Sudan basically for peace and reconciliation to take root across the country.
“His Holiness is concerned about reconciliation and peace in South Sudan. He is following the good developments that are taking place with you, with the population of the church and the authorities who need his spiritual support. Thank you very much and God bless all of you,” noted the 67-year Parolin.
Gen Kuol referred to the visit as a “blessing to the nation”.
“All the churches in South Sudan are welcoming you. The government is welcoming you and so are the people of South Sudan. We wish you a good stay in Juba, and in South Sudan, and this is when you will be seeing there is peace in South Sudan, peace is coming,” Juuk added.
The Pope’s close ally has come at a time when the country is pressing on with the implementation of the peace agreement with some fruitful moves like the Unification of the Unified Command Structure, and the pending Graduation of Necessary Unified Forces.
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