Arrived on Friday, February 3, in Juba, Pope Francis continues his visit to South Sudan. He is in the capital of the youngest country in the world until Sunday for a ” ecumenical pilgrimage for peace “. After his meetings with the leaders of the country on Friday, he addressed this Saturday morning, February 4, to members of the clergy. Nearly a thousand religious gathered in the Sainte Thérèse cathedral to listen to the Holy Father.
With our correspondent in Juba, Florence Miettaux
Coming from the dioceses of South Sudan but also from Sudan, the religious waited patiently for the arrival of Pope Francis to the sound of the songs of the choir of the Church.
Sister Mary George is from the Diocese of Malakal in the northeast of the country and works with South Sudanese refugees in Sudan: “ It’s really the Echurch that works for unity and peace, that tries to give hope to people. I who work with refugees, our hope is that the coming of the pope will unite us and bring peace, stability in our country, to allow refugees to return home, rather than staying in the camps where they are, for ten years. »
Harmony
In his speech, the pope gave advice to religious to encourage harmony, within society but also within the Church.
” We must never exercise the ministry by seeking religious and social prestige, but by walking in the middle and together, learning to listen and to dialogue said Pope Francis.
” The message that the Pope addressed to us today, we priests and bishops, all religious and Christians, is to go from house to house to preach peace and evangelization », says, for his part, Father Victor Roba Bartolomew who officiates at the parish of Sainte Thérèse.
“ unite people »
Seminarian Peter Gatkuoth Nhial also attended the talk: “ The Church has really fought for peace in South Sudan, to unite people, not to lose hope and to pray together. Even though there are problems in our nation, people need to come together and understand that we are all children of one father. »
Demonstration of unity, Pope Francis will be joined this Saturday evening by the two other men of the Church who accompany him on this pilgrimage for peace in South Sudan. With the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, an ecumenical prayer will take place at the Mausoleum of John Garang.
To read and listen also: Pope’s visit to South Sudan: “The Christian Churches have always worked together there”