PAPAL VISIT SOUTH SUDAN: South Sudan is Land of Great Abundance, says Pope Francis
Rose Achiego Ande
Pope Francis in his address to the authorities, civil society and members of the diplomatic corps at Presidential Palace in Juba on 3rd, February 2023, described South Sudan as a land of great abundance.
“Fruits and vegetation abound here, thanks to the great River Nile that passes through the country. What the ancient historian Herodotus said of Egypt, namely, that it can be called a “gift of the Nile” also applies to South Sudan,” the Holy Father said.
In reference to river Nile that crosses South Sudan and carries with it ancient history of the longest river in the world, Pope Francis called on the leaders to work together with other countries and to renew the life of society as pure sources of prosperity and peace adding that, they are springs that water the life of the community.
“White Nile leaves South Sudan, passes through other countries, joins the Blue Nile and then flows into the sea. Rivers know no borders; they connect different territories. In a similar way, in order to achieve a suitable development, it is essential, now more than ever, to foster positive relationships with other countries, starting with those in the area,” the Pontiff said.
Pope Francis acknowledged contribution made by the international community to South Sudan, and I expressed gratitude for the efforts made to promote reconciliation and development.
“I am convinced that, for those contributions to be fruitful, a genuine understanding of social processes and problems is essential. It is not enough to analyze and report on them from afar; there is a need to be directly involved, with patience and determination and, more generally, to resist the temptation to impose pre-established models alien to local realities. As Saint John Paul II said thirty years ago in Sudan: “African solutions must be found to African problems” (Address at the Welcome Ceremony, 10 February 1993),” he said.
The Holy Father said it is time for South Sudan to commit to an urgent transformation by knowing and respecting one another and to engage in dialogue. He added that it is time move from words to deeds even though it might not be smooth all the way.
“The Nile, leaving its sources, and passing through some uneven terrain that creates waterfalls and rapids, enters the South Sudanese plain and, near Juba, becomes navigable, before entering more boggy areas. In a similar way, I trust that the Republic’s path to peace will not proceed unevenly, but, starting from this capital, will take a course that can be navigated and not be bogged down by inertia,” Poe said.
The Holy Father noted that, behind every form of violence, there is anger and resentment, and behind every form of anger and resentment, there is the unhealed memory of wounds, humiliations and wrongs. ‘It follows that the only way to break free of these is through encounter, the culture of encounter: by accepting others as our brothers and sisters and making room for them, even if it means taking a step backwards. This attitude, which is essential for any peace process, is also indispensable for the cohesive development of society,” he said.
