Francis “ready to visit” South Sudan

Oct 28, 2016

By Christopher Lamb
South Sudan’s Church leaders have urged Pope Francis to visit their war-torn country, a trip that they’d like him to make alongside the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Catholic and Anglican bishops along with the Presbyterian moderator met with Francis in the Vatican where they urged him to help peace efforts in their homeland.
Francis called Archbishop of Juba, Paulino Lukudu Loro, the Anglican Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul Yak and Peter Gai Lual Marrow, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church to Rome so he could hear about the joint work of the churches in the country.

Archbishop Lukudo Loro said the Pope was in favour of visiting South Sudan particularly as he had met the country’s President Salvator Kiir in Entebbe, Uganda during his visit to Africa last year.

“The Pope said ‘I am ready to come to South Sudan,’ ” the archbishop explained. “President Kiir is also very much in favour of a visit.”

On the plane back from Georgia and Azerbaijan, Francis said he was studying a trip to Africa next year but said it was “dependent on the political situation.”

The Pope decided to visit an African war zone at the end of 2015 when travelled to the Central African Republic and his visit played some part in bringing about peaceful elections.

That trip was inspired by the co-ordinated peace efforts of Catholic, Evangelical and Muslim leaders and the close ecumenical collaboration between South Sudan’s churches would make a trip there more attractive.

Since it became an independent state in 2011, South Sudan has been riddled with inter-ethnic fighting. Today, problems are centred on clashes between President Kiir’s government forces loyal to Rik Machar, a man who Kiir dismissed as his vice-president in 2013.

Archbishop Deng Bul Yak said the church leaders urged the Pope to try and broker peace talks between Kiir and Machar, something which could happen during a papal visit.

He stressed a trip by the Pope would have added significance if Francis was joined by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who has already visited South Sudan and is experienced in reconciliation work.

“It [a visit] will mean unity. If the two leaders of the major faith groups could come and beg for peace - that would make a big impact on the country,” Archbishop Deng Bul Yak said.

Meanwhile, Archbishop Lukudo Loro said he urged the Pope to appoint a resident papal ambassador in South Sudan in order to strengthen diplomatic and peace efforts. There is currently a nuncio to both South Sudan and Kenya, although he lives in the latter.

The archbishop added that were Francis to come to the country, rebel fighters would “leave the bush” and put down their weapons for the Pope.--Lastampa