Pope Francis, Archbishop Welby & Church of Scotland Moderator Visit South Sudan to Promote Peace & Reconciliation

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• Pope Francis took an unprecedented trip to South Sudan to promote peace along with other Christian leaders.
• Archbishop Justin Welby described his “heart [as] breaking with sorrow” over the continued violence.
• Pope Francis shocked many in 2019 by kissing the feet of South Sudan’s political rivals in order to ask them to respect the terms of the ceasefire.
• Pope Francis, Archbishop Justin Welby, and Church of Scotland Moderator Iain Greenshields led thousands of people in a joint prayer at the mausoleum of John Garang.
• The visit is seen as an important step towards finding peace and reconciliation in the region.
• It is hoped that through this effort, violence and instability in South Sudan can be brought to an end.

Die Details

Pope Francis Takes Unprecedented Trip to South Sudan

Pope Francis has taken an unprecedented trip to the war-torn country of South Sudan to promote peace along with other Christian leaders.

South Sudan has been wracked by civil war since becoming independent in 2011, leading to the death of more than 400,000 people.

On the first full day of his visit, Pope Francis met with South Sudan’s religious leaders and urged them not to remain neutral but to speak out against injustice and the abuses of power that oppress.

Archbishop Justin Welby described his “heart [as] breaking with sorrow” over the continued violence and urged people at every level – from the president to the smallest child – to find the mercy of God and be transformed.

Pope Francis Kisses Rival’s Feet

Pope Francis shocked many in 2019 by kissing the feet of South Sudan’s political rivals in order to ask them to respect the terms of the ceasefire.

Despite the ceasefire, violence has continued throughout South Sudan, leading Pope Francis and other religious leaders to hear testimonies from 2 million displaced people.

Joint Prayer

During a joint meeting, Pope Francis, Archbishop Justin Welby, and Church of Scotland Moderator Iain Greenshields led thousands of people in a joint prayer at the mausoleum of John Garang, South Sudan’s founding father.

On Sunday, the Pope will celebrate Mass outdoors, which is expected to draw large crowds. The gathering is being seen as an important step towards finding peace and reconciliation in the region.

Expectations of Visit

The visit has been greatly anticipated by those affected by the conflict and its aftermath, as it is seen as tangible evidence of the importance of religious leaders around the world coming together to help foster peace and reconciliation in areas of conflict.

It is hoped that through this effort, violence and instability in South Sudan can be brought to an end.