By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The Vatican’s diplomatic representative to South Sudan has urged the country’s warring parties to end ongoing conflict as a mark of “honour” to the legacy of the departed leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
“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,” Archbishop Séamus Patrick Horgan said.
The Pope, who died aged 88 on Monday, had consistently urged the two sides of South Sudan’s conflict to forge a permanent peace.
During his historic visit to the East African nation in 2023, the Pope, who was laid to rest on Saturday renewed his call for a lasting peace between the opposing factions.
A recent escalation of violence has put at risk the fragile peace agreement struck in 2018 between the civil war’s two main factions, led by President Salva Kiir and his longtime rival, First Vice-President Riek Machar.
Archbishop Horgan said Pope Francis “spoke firmly” during his 2023 visit, calling for “no more bloodshed, no more conflict, no more violence”, adding that the late pontiff’s message remained “relevant”.
Speaking to congregants attending Mass at St Theresa’s Cathedral in the capital, Juba, on Friday, the Archbishop said it was “disheartening” to see continuing reports of violence.
He reminded them that South Sudan held a special place in the Pope’s heart, outlining his “extraordinary relationship” with the country and his “affection” for its people.
The Mass was also attended by Kiir and Vice-President Taban Deng Gai – two of the four South Sudanese leaders whose feet were kissed by Pope Francis at the Vatican in 2019.
Speaking at the end of the Mass, Kiir said: “As an icon of peace, tolerance, forgiveness, reconciliation, harmony and inclusivity, Pope Francis’ message resonated with people of all faiths all over the world.”
However, Christian faithful who attended the Mass expressed disappointment that the president did not use the opportunity to re-commit to peace, reconciliation, and dialogue.
Justin Badi Arama, the Archbishop of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan (ECSS) and Anglican Primate, who also participated in the prayer service, said: “It is sad that Pope Francis has passed on when the Revitalised Peace Agreement is seriously sick.
“As we celebrate his passing on today, we call upon the transitional government of national unity to make every effort to ensure that the revitalised agreement, which is seriously sick, does not die.”
The head of the UN mission in South Sudan, Nicolas Haysom, recently warned that the country was “on the brink of a return to full-scale civil war”.
Tensions rose at the start of March when a militia group allied to Machar during South Sudan’s civil war clashed with the army.
