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Pope Francis kisses the feet of the Sudanese leaders.
Pope Francis knelt on Thursday to kiss the feet of former South Sudanese leaders in a dramatic gesture after an unprecedented retreat at the Vatican.
The pope, however, asked them not to return to civil war.
He also called on President Salva Kiir, his former deputy head of rebels Riek Machar and three other vice presidents to abide by a peace agreement they signed and to pledge to form a government. 39, union in May.
"I ask you as a brother to stay in peace. I ask you with my heart, let's go ahead.
"There will be a lot of problems but they will not overcome us. Solve your problems, "said Francis in improvised remarks.
The leaders seemed stunned by the fact that the 82-year-old pope, aided by helpers, was kneeling hard to kiss the shoes of the two main opposing leaders and several others in the room.
The pope's words became even more pressing as South Sudan was worried about whether Thursday's coup in neighboring Sudan could defeat a fragile peace deal ending the country's brutal five-year civil war. South Sudan.
The Vatican has reunited South Sudanese leaders for 24 hours of prayer and preaching inside the pope's residence, in an ultimate attempt to heal bitter divisions a month before the constitution of a unity government by the a nation ravaged by war.
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