The pope kisses the feet of the leaders of South Sudan

VATICAN CITY: 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 country, "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 Vice President Rebecca Nyandeng Garang said Francis's actions have deeply affected him.

"I had never seen anything like it, tears flowed from my eyes," she says.

South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011, and in 2013, the country sank into a bloody civil war, which left at least 400,000 dead.

The two-day Vatican meeting took place a month before the end of the preconception 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.

A military coup in Sudan on Thursday fueled concerns in southern Sudan that the overthrow of long-time president, Omar al-Bashir, could derail the already fragile peace agreement.

"Sudan has helped us in the conclusion of the peace agreement.We hope that the new system will also focus on the agreement and will ensure its implementation," said the head of the government. Opposition Machar, who attended a prayer vigil for peace held at the Church of Rome Santa Maria in Trastevere.