SOUTH SUDAN: Never Lose Lope, Pope Urges the People of South Sudan
Rose Achiego Ande
As Pope Francis wound his ecumenical journey to South Sudan on 5th, February 2023, he called on the people to keep their hope of having a peaceful nation alive.
“Never lose hope. And lose no opportunity to build peace. May hope and peace dwell among you. May hope and peace dwell in South Sudan,” he said.
Speaking during the Holy Mass celebrated at “John Garang” Mausoleum, The Holy Father acknowledged the role of women in lighting up hope even in difficult situations. “As Saint Josephine Bakhita reminds us, women, especially here, are a sign of hope, and in a special way I thank and bless all the women of the country. To hope, I would associate another word, the word that has echoed in these days and – this I desire with all my heart – in days yet to come: peace.” He said.
He also entrusted the Sudanese peace process to Mother Mary Queen of Peace. “I entrust the path of reconciliation and peace to another woman, the greatest and at the same time the least, the most exalted and yet the one closest to us, to each one of us. She is our most loving Mother Mary, Queen of Peace. She has accompanied us with her caring and quiet presence, and the statue that depicts her as Our Lady of Africa is here with us,” the Pontiff said.
As he returned to Rome, Pope Francis promised to keep journeying with the people of South Sudan in their quest to attain peace and stability adding that they are closer to his heart.
“We will continue to accompany your steps and do all we can to make them steps of peace, steps to peace. We pray to Mother Mary now, and we entrust to her the cause of peace in South Sudan and in the entire African continent, where so many of our brothers and sisters in the faith experience persecution and danger, where great numbers of people suffer from conflict, exploitation and poverty. To Our Lady we also entrust peace in our world, especially in the many countries at war, like Ukraine, which suffers so greatly,” he said.
The Pope appreciated South Sudanese for their warm welcome and all who accompanied him in his pilgrimage to the young nation.
“I have now come to the end of this pilgrimage among you, and I want to express my gratitude for the warm welcome given me and for all the work done to prepare for this visit. I am grateful to all of you, brothers and sisters, who have come here in great numbers from various places, spending many hours, if not days, on the road! I thank you for the affection you have shown me, but also for your faith and your patience, for the good you do and the hardships that you willingly offer to God without growing discouraged but continuing to move forward,” Pope Francis said.
He acknowledged the fact that South Sudan possesses a courageous Church, with close ties to the Church in Sudan.
