Tornielli highlights the gesture of the Pope kissing the feet of Sudanese leaders

Vatican City (AICA):Andrea Tornielli, the editorial director of the dicastery for the communication of the Holy See, explained the significance of the gesture of Pope Francis who, at the end of the spiritual retreat for peace in Southern Sudan, held at the Vatican, embraces the feet of Sudanese rulers The pope servants of God are not afraid to humiliate themselves to imitate their master, he badured.

The editorial director of the Holy See's communication dicastery, Andrea Tornielli, explained the meaning of what Pope Francis did when he concluded the spiritual retreat for peace in southern Sudan, which was held by is held at the Vatican.

The pontiff knelt and kissed the feet of the Sudanese leaders and called them to make peace effective.

The surprising and moving gesture of Francis at the end of the two days of spiritual retreat for peace in Southern Sudan, which the pontiff welcomed at home, has an evangelical flavor, but he stressed that they are not new in the Church.

With regard to other Christian brothers, as in the case of those who allow themselves to touch the heart and accept gestures of reconciliation and peace, the Servant Popes of the servants of God are not afraid to humble themselves to imitate their Master, he said.

Editorial text

The surprising and moving gesture of Francis at the end of the two days of spiritual retreat for peace in Southern Sudan that the pontiff welcomed in his house has an evangelical flavor. And it was exactly one week before the same gesture was repeated in churches around the world to commemorate the Last Supper, when Jesus, on the eve of his Pbadion, washed the feet of the Apostles and showed them the way to service.

At Casa Santa Marta, after asking "as a brother" to the leaders of this country to "stay in peace", Francisco, with visible suffering, wanted to bow before them to embrace him. He also posed before the President of the Republic of South Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, and the appointed Vice-Presidents, among them Riek Machar and Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabio.

A strong image that can only be understood in the climate of mutual forgiveness that characterized the two days of retirement. This is not a politico-diplomatic summit, but a common prayer and reflection experience among leaders who, despite signing a peace agreement, have a hard time making themselves respected.

Peace for believers is invoked before God. And it is invoked even more by the sacrifice of so many innocent victims of hatred and war.

Something must have happened during those hours in Santa Marta, the first among the leaders of Southern Sudan who accepted the invitation of the bishop of Rome to participate in this retreat, entitled "Servant of the Servants of God". Kneeling with difficulty to kiss his feet, the pope bowed before what God had raised during this prayer meeting.

Similar gestures, the evangelical image of service, are not new in the recent history of the papacy.

On December 14, 1975, St. Paul VI, in the Sistine Chapel, celebrating the tenth anniversary of the annulment of the mutual excommunication between the churches of Rome and Constantinople, descended from the altar to the end of the Mbad, again bearing the sacred ornaments and inclination to the feet of the Metropolitan of Chalcedon, representative of the Patriarch Demetrius.

In addition to Jesus' washing of the feet, he also recalled the events of the Council of Florence, where in 1439 the Orthodox Patriarchs refused to kiss the feet of Pope Eugene IV.

With regard to other Christian brothers, as in the case of those who allow themselves to touch the heart and accept gestures of reconciliation and peace, the popes "Servants of the Servants of God" are not afraid of humble to imitate their Master. +