Juba, South Sudan: The Vatican’s diplomatic envoy to South Sudan has called on the country’s rival leaders to honour the legacy of Pope Francis by ending ongoing violence and recommitting to peace. Archbishop Séamus Patrick Horgan made the appeal during a Mass held on Friday at St Theresa’s Cathedral in the capital, Juba.
“We must try to make concrete in the daily life of South Sudan his ardent wish to see a true, durable peace, to see dialogue as the condition of that peace and to see the silencing of the weapons of war,”
the Archbishop said, reflecting on the late Pope’s vision for the war-torn country.
Pope Francis, who died earlier this week at the age of 88, had made a historic visit to South Sudan in 2023, during which he passionately urged leaders to end the years-long civil conflict. His plea followed an earlier symbolic act in 2019, when he knelt to kiss the feet of South Sudan’s political leaders at the Vatican, begging them to embrace peace.
Despite the Pope’s powerful gestures and words, recent clashes between forces loyal to Vice-President Riek Machar and government troops have threatened the fragile peace agreement signed in 2018. The UN has warned that the country stands “on the brink of a return to full-scale civil war.”
Speaking at the same Mass, President Salva Kiir praised Pope Francis as “an icon of peace, tolerance, forgiveness, reconciliation, harmony and inclusivity,” saying his message “resonated with the people of all faiths all over the world.” However, many attending the Mass expressed disappointment that the president failed to recommit publicly to peace and dialogue.
Church leaders were united in calling for renewed efforts to uphold the Revitalised Peace Agreement. Justin Badi Arama, Archbishop of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, said:
“It is sad that Pope Francis has passed on when the Revitalised Peace Agreement is seriously sick.”
Auxiliary Bishop Santo Loku Pio of the Catholic Archdiocese of Juba criticised South Sudan’s leadership for failing to embrace the Pope’s example, saying, “The gesture by the Pope in Rome remains deeply moving, but it was ignored.”
The prayer service was attended by political leaders, ambassadors, Christian clergy from various denominations, and Muslim representatives, a reflection of the unity Pope Francis hoped to inspire.
