Pope Francis meets victims of war on South Sudan peace pilgrimage
- The pope, 86, has been pushing South Sudan’s leaders to heal divisions for the sake of a nation traumatised by a five-year civil war that left 380,000 people dead
- ‘I want to renew my forceful and heartfelt appeal to end all conflict and to resume the peace process in a serious way,’ said the pope
Pope Francis on Saturday urged South Sudan’s leaders to restore “dignity” to the millions of their countrymen affected by conflict, renewing a forceful appeal for peace in the strife-torn nation.
On the second day of his visit to South Sudan, a nation that has been at war for around half its existence, Francis heard from children who have spent much of their lives on the run from violence.
The 86-year-old pontiff has been pushing South Sudan’s leaders to heal divisions for the sake of a nation traumatised by the legacy of a five-year civil war that left 380,000 people dead.
A ceasefire was struck, but peace has eluded the world’s newest nation, and Francis, who tried to broker peace between the rival parties, finds South Sudan beset with violence and despair.
On Saturday, Francis told a gathering in Juba of hundreds of people displaced by conflict that they deserved a better future.
“Sadly, in this war-torn country, being a displaced person or a refugee has become a common and collective experience,” he said.
“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.”