Francis left Juba around 12:00 local time (10:00 GMT) and will hold his traditional press conference on the plane that will take him back to the Vatican with the heads of the Churches of England and Scotland and representatives of other countries. two Christian denominations in South Sudan, where he was visiting.
During his 48-hour visit, the pope repeatedly called for peace in the 12 million predominantly Christian country, stifled by a civil war between supporters of two rival leaders, Salva Kiir and Riek Machar, between 2013 and 2018. It killed 380,000 people and left millions domesticated. displaced persons.
Before the Mass, the pope said: “Let us lay down the weapons of hatred and vengeance (…) overcome the antipathy and discontent that have become chronic over time and threaten to pit tribes and ethnic groups against each other.” of about 70,000 believers.
Before the service, Francis, 86, greeted and blessed the crowd to the beat of chants and tambourines as he rode his Popemobile.
As they passed, the crowd shouted “Welcome to South Sudan!” chanted slogans and waved the flags of the world’s youngest state and the Vatican.
After an ecumenical prayer on Saturday evening, many worshipers spent the night in the mausoleum of John Garang, named after the historic leader of the southern rebellion who died in a mysterious helicopter crash in 2005 while campaigning for a united federal Sudan. secular and democratic.
Others roamed the dusty city streets all night in their traditional dress. Some wore a cross or a picture of the Pope around their necks.
Like many South Sudanese, James Agiu hopes that this visit will “change the country”.
“We have been at war for many years, but we need peace,” the 24-year-old told AFP.
“I have suffered in my life. “This is why I’m here for the Pope to bless me and my family,” said 32-year-old Josephine James.
On Saturday, Pope Francis called for a “dignified life” for displaced people in this landlocked East African country, which has about 2.2 million internally displaced people in December, according to the UN.
As soon as the pope arrived, he urged politicians to give “a new impetus” to peace and denounced corruption.
The UN and the international community accuse South Sudanese leaders of inciting violence, suppressing political freedoms and misappropriating government funds.
The personal armies of Salva Kiir and Riek Machar are also accused of war crimes.
Despite the peace agreement signed in 2018, violence continues in the country, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011.
At least 21 people were killed in a cattle raid in the south on Thursday, on the eve of the pope’s arrival.
Read more: Pope confirms those who choose war ‘betrayed God’
In 2019, Francis acknowledged two enemies in the Vatican and knelt down to kiss their feet and asked them to make peace, a gesture that followed no tangible progress.
Prior to Juba, Francis paid a four-day visit to Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he denounced the “heinous atrocities” committed by armed groups.
This is Argentina’s 40th foreign visit to sub-Saharan Africa since the election of the pope in 2013.
Source: Ultimahora
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Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
