Pope plans to visit South Sudan amid uncertainty over peace deal
South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit, head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis meeting on the last day of a spiritual retreat (photo credit: supplied)
Nov 10th, 2019 (SSNN)-The head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State, Pope Francis has announced his intention to visit war-ravaged South Sudan in a bid to push for the full implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement signed in September last year by South Sudan’s parties.
Speaking to congregations on Sunday at St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis urged South Sudan government and opposition leaders leaders to set aside their differences and choose peace over war.
“I want to renew my invitation to all sides in the national political process to seek what unites them and overcome what divides, in a spirit of true brotherhood,” said Pope.
Pope made the remarks three days after the South Sudanese government and the main opposition party, the Sudan’s people’s Liberation Movement/Army-IO reached an agreement to extend the formation of a unity government for another 100 days starting from November 12th until February next year.
Last year, the head of the Catholic Church planned to visit South Sudan, however, the trip was abruptly canceled due to insecurity and the fact that the war was going on between government and opposition forces.
Last year, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit, former Vice-president Dr. Riek Machar and other opposition leaders went to the Vatican at the invitation of Pope Francis for a Spiritual Retreat.
In an unprecedented gesture on the last day of the spiritual retreat, the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis kneeled and kissed the feet of South Sudan leaders, a humble gesture that implies that ‘I am spiritually with you and at your service’.
South Sudan’s civil war has killed an estimated 400,000 people and displaced millions from their homes, forcing them to seek refuge in East African countries.
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