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Pope Francis knelt on Thursday to kiss the feet of rival leaders of Southern Sudan, in an unprecedented act of humility to encourage them to strengthen the failed peace process of the African country.
At the end of a two-day Vatican retreat for African leaders, the pope asked the President of Southern Sudan and the Leader of the Opposition to make the peace agreement a reality despite mounting difficulties. . Then he knelt down and kissed the leaders' feet one by one.
The pope usually organizes a foot washing ritual with the prisoners on Holy Thursday, but has never presented such deference to political leaders.
"I express my deepest hope that hostilities will finally cease, that the armistice will be respected, that political and ethnic divisions will be overcome and that there will be lasting peace for the common good of all. citizens who dream of starting to build the nation, "said the pope of Southern Sudan in his closing speech.
The spiritual retreat brought together President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar. The three vice presidents of Kiir were also present. The pope kissed every foot.
South Sudanese leaders have made no statement in response to the pope's call for peace.
South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011 and in 2013, the country sank into a bloody civil war, which claimed the lives of at least 400,000 people.
The two-day Vatican meeting was held a month before the end of the preclearance period of the fragile peace agreement. On May 12, opposition leader Machar is expected to return to southern Sudan and return to Kiir as MP.
However, the agreement signed in September in Khartoum, capital of neighboring Sudan, has experienced delays, missed deadlines and continued fighting, with key aspects still not being implemented.
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