The Pope is making his first visit to South Sudan, a predominantly Christian country torn by years of conflict. Francis is accompanied there by Justin Welby, spiritual leader of the Anglican Church, and Iain Greenshields, minister of the Church of Scotland. A coming that gives back a little hope to the people, says John Ashworth, a former missionary who spent 40 years in Sudan and South Sudan. Interview.
RFI: How important is this visit by Pope Francis, the Archbishop of Canterbury, spiritual leader of the Anglican Church, and the minister of the Church of Scotland for South Sudan?
John Ashworth: For South Sudan, this visit is very important, because the population often has the impression of being forgotten. And the arrival of these senior religious leaders gives them a little hope.
Christian churches have always worked together in Sudan and in South Sudan. For more than 50 years, they have been pushing for the restoration of peace and reconciliation. In this, the visit of these three Church leaders is an important support for their work.
Do the churches have a lot of weight in South Sudan?
The churches have a very important moral authority in the country. During the war years, when there was no government, no NGOs, no United Nations troops, no civil society, no media, the Church was the only institution present on the ground, Population.
The Church does not evacuate its personnel when there is danger, as the UN or NGOs do. The Churches remain on the ground with the population to help them. In a way, the South Sudanese see them as a government that provides them with basic services, in health, education… The Church has always been like a guide, a leader during these difficult years of war.
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Do we know if President Salva Kiir and his Vice-President Riek Machar are themselves very religious?
They are both Christians. Salva Kiir is Catholic. And Riek Machar is a Presbyterian. We know that Salva Kiir is religious, very involved in the Catholic Church and that he is advised by Catholic bishops. Just as Riek Machar is advised by Protestant bishops.
► To read also: South Sudan: the Vatican representative hopes that the Pope’s visit will relaunch the peace process
Do you know if Pope Francis and his two Protestant colleagues will put pressure on the authorities to reconcile?
Yes, these three religious leaders are expected to push for a return to peace in the country. Will the political and military leaders of the country listen to them? That’s another question.
When Salva Kiir and Riek Marchar came on pilgrimage to Rome in 2019, they pledged to work for peace. At the time, the pope knelt down and kissed their feet. It was a strong image. Everyone thought that this gesture would encourage them to change, that it would help reconciliation. But, unfortunately, once back home, nothing changed. There was no political will, no effort.
The problem is that Salva Kiir and Riek Machar are not alone. They are surrounded by people who influence them: security forces, militias, other political parties, their own clan, their own community, who put pressure on them. We hope and pray that the pope and his two colleagues will remind them of the promises made in Rome. But I don’t know what influence they can really exert on our political leaders.