Pope kneels – literally – South Sudan politicians do not give up on violence

On April 10 and 11, the pope hosted political and religious leaders – Catholics, Anglicans and Protestants – of the South Sudan in a retreat of prayer and reflection to strengthen the peace agreements.

The meeting ended in the afternoon of Thursday, April 11, the pope kneeling before the South Sudanese political leaders (see video at minute 31). as a physical gesture of supplication to implore that they do not break the agreements and try to keep the peace in this poor country and damaged by several decades of conflict.

In the 31st minute, at the end of the meeting, the pope knelt in front of the South Sudanese political leaders to implore them to keep the country at peace.

South Sudan has about 12 million inhabitants, 70% of whom are Christians (half of the Christians are Catholic) and 20% practice animistic religions. In 2011, during a referendum, he gained independence from North Sudan, Muslim religion, despised and oppressed hard non-Muslim South ethnic groups. Sadly, After independence, clashes between armed civilians between factions and ethnic groups. Although it has oil, it is one of the poorest countries in the world and almost without resources in education and health.

Pope Francis welcomed the political and religious leaders who collaborated with a proposal that had been launched by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, Primate of the Anglican Communion. The guests stayed at Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican residence where many ecclesiastics are staying in the Vatican. The goal has been strengthen the so-called "revitalized agreement on conflict resolution in South Sudan", inviting those who will be responsible from May 12th.

The Acting Director of the Holy See Press Office, Alessandro Gisotti, drew up the list of participants.

Civil authorities:
– Save Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic
– four of the five appointed vice-presidents: Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon, James Wani Igga, Taban Deng Gai and Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior.

Ecclesiastical authorities:
– eight members of the Council of Churches of Southern Sudan (Christians of different denominations)
– John Baptist Odama, Catholic Archbishop of Gulu (Uganda), as preacher
– Agbonkhianmeghe Orobator, Catholic priest, President of the Conference of Major Superiors of Africa and Madagascar, as preacher

The meeting ended at five o'clock on Thursday afternoon with a speech by the pope. It was after the speech that the Pope made the expressive gesture, unusual in recent pops. Participants received a Bible signed by Pope Francis, Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, and John Chalmers., former moderator of the Scottish Presbyterian Church, with the message "Seek what unites, overcome what divides."

Pope's speech to South Sudanese leaders

"It is very important to remember that" peace "was the first word that the Lord's voice addressed to the apostles after their painful pbadion and after conquering death," the pope reminded South Sudanese leaders in his speech. final, take over Mireia Bonilla on News.va.

"This is not a regular bilateral or diplomatic meeting between the pope and the heads of state, nor an ecumenical initiative among the representatives of the different Christian communities: Is a spiritual retreat, "said the pope.

"The purpose of this retreat is to be together before God and to discern His will, it is also to reflect on His life and on the common mission that He entrusts us with; Huge co-responsibility for the present and the future of the people of Southern Sudan is a commitment, revitalized and reconciled, for the building of your nation. "

Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace and Model

Continuing his speech, the pope affirmed that "peace" was the first gift that the Lord had given us and was also "the first task that the leaders of the nations must perform": "it is the fundamental condition of the respect of the rights of each man and to the integral development of all peoples ". In addition, he emphasized that Jesus Christ, whom God the Father sent to the world as the Prince of Peace, "gave us the model to follow".

God's gaze

Francis also spoke of the "eyes of God", that is, the "look of the Lord Jesus", who – he expressed – is benevolent and merciful "and" encourages us to give up the path that leads to sin and death and supports us to continue the path of peace and goodness. "In this sense, he recalled the groaning of the hungry and thirsty for justice, a groan that" forces us into conscience and commits us to our service "They are small in the eyes of the world but precious in the eyes of God".

"We ourselves are members of the people and we have a special responsibility and mission: to serve them" and, moreover, he has chosen us – he points out – "to be his collaborators in the construction of". a more just world ".

The look of the city

Faced with this vision of Jesus, the pope speaks of another view attributed to them, that of "his people": "it is a look that expresses the ardent desire for justice, reconciliation and peace ". And as Noah waited for the dove to bring him the olive branch to show the end of the flood and the beginning of a new era of peace between God and men, "his people – he said – is waiting for his return to the homeland, the reconciliation of all its members and a new era of peace and prosperity for all ".

In his speech, the Holy Father affirmed that he was constantly thinking about suffering souls and implored that the fire of war would be extinguished once and for all and that he could return home and live in serenity: "My thoughts are mainly directed to people who have lost their loved ones and their homes, to families who have separated and never seen each other again, to all the children and the elderly, to the women and men who suffer terribly from conflict and violence that sows death, hunger, pain and tears. "

Peace is possible

"I will never tire of saying that peace is possible!" the Holy Father exclaimed at the end of his speech and expressed the wish that all "know how to accept the highest vocation of peacemakers, in a spirit of fraternity and solidarity with all the members. of our people, in a noble, right, firm and courageous spirit in the search for peace, through dialogue, negotiation and forgiveness. "Finally, he urged them to"look for what unites them, relying on belonging to the same people, and overcomes everything that divides them ", then – he stressed – "people are tired and exhausted by the wars of the past: Remember that with the war all is lost! His people today aspire for a better future, through reconciliation and peace. "

After delivering the speech, the Holy Father made a prayer with the leaders of Southern Sudan and expressed his desire and hope "to be able to go soon to his beloved nation " and he recalled his recent meeting with the Episcopal Conference of Sudan and South Sudan at the Vatican, on the occasion of the visit ad limina Apostolorumin which, he said, he was impressed by his optimism, "based on a living faith and expressed in his tireless efforts, as well as his concerns over many political and social difficulties".