Archbishop Stephen Ameyu Martin receives Cardinal Pietro Parolin upon the cardinal’s arrival in Juba, South Sudan, Aug. 14. (photo: Sudan/South Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference)
The apostolic nuncio in South Sudan said the visit by Cardinal Pietro Parolin is an extension of the ‘care and love’ of Pope Francis.
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin arrived in South Sudan on Monday, Aug. 14, to meet people fleeing violence from neighboring Sudan among other activities lined up for his four-day visit to the east-central African country.
In an interview with ACI Africa, CNA’s partner news agency in Africa, ahead of the visit, the apostolic nuncio in South Sudan said the visit by Cardinal Parolin is an extension of the “care and love” of Pope Francis to the people of South Sudan.
Cardinal Parolin is visiting South Sudan at the invitation of Bishop Stephen Nyodho of the Diocese of Malakal as a follow-up to his July 2022 visit to review the situation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and those fleeing violence in neighboring Sudan. These include people who have been displaced by the ongoing war between Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces(RSF).
“The visit of the cardinal is another way of extending that care and love of the Holy Father to the people of South Sudan because Pope Francis, as we all know him, is a man who has always had special attention for the least of our brothers and sisters,” Archbishop Hubertus van Megen said in an Aug. 13 interview with ACI Africa at the apostolic nunciature in Juba.
He added: “There is an influx of people coming from Sudan to Malakal, and it is the intention of the cardinal to go and meet those people to greet them and show to them the care and love of Pope Francis and also to see their needs.”
“The Holy Father is thinking of all the refugees that are coming in, those from various parts of South Sudan and those from Sudan,” he said. “Pope Francis is thinking about people who have lost everything in their lives, and it is good that these people in one way or another feel they are not forgotten and they are cared for, and this is the role of the Church.”
After his reception at Juba International Airport by clergy, religious, government officials and a few faithful, the cardinal proceeded to the Vatican apostolic nunciature for a meeting with Church leaders in South Sudan.
Also on Cardinal Parolin’s itinerary is a meeting with South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit, vice presidents and other government officials, before he travels to the Diocese of Malakal to meet with the returnees and refugees from Sudan.
Cardinal Parolin will also visit the Diocese of Rumbek to listen to the concerns of that diocese.
The cardinal is scheduled to plant trees at St. Theresa Catholic Cathedral in the Archdiocese of Juba before returning to Rome on Aug. 17.
Speaking to journalists Aug. 12, Archbishop Stephen Ameyu Martin of the Archdiocese of Juba said Pope Francis sent Cardinal Parolin to South Sudan to become familiar with the situation in South Sudan, both as a state and a Church official.
“His visit shows the love of the Holy Father to South Sudanese. We have a lot to benefit from this visit because it will show how we have progressed with what we shared with the Holy Father when he came and also with the cardinal when he was in the country with the Pope,” Archbishop Ameyu said during the press conference at his residence in Juba.
The archbishop of Juba said Cardinal Parolin is coming to “follow up on some tasks we were given; those tasks are clear in our minds, both the government and the Church tasks.”
“We are here emphasizing the question of comprehensive peace among the people, the peace that was signed in Addis-Ababa. The Revitalize Peace Agreement so far has not yet been implemented systematically; there are some loopholes concerning this agreement that require follow-up,” said Archbishop Ameyu, who was named a cardinal on July 9. “The Holy Father would like us to begin building peace together; there is no peace without compromises.”
“It is not easy to implement this peace, especially when there are [outlying] disagreements between the parties in the implementation of peace,” he continued. “We are here to encourage each party to the Revitalized Peace Agreement to see into it that at least there should be some compromises; there is no peace without compromises.”
The cardinal-elect encouraged South Sudanese to have patience amid their hardships, noting that the Church is working tirelessly to ensure that the country’s peace agreement is implemented fully for lasting peace and stability in the country.
This story was first published by ACI Africa, CNA’s news partner agency in Africa, and has been adapted by CNA.
Newer articles:
- Luol Deng exclusive - 2023 FIBA World Cup: “It’s not about basketball, it’s about South Sudan” - 17/08/2023 05:48
- Children at deadly risk of measles and malnutrition after fleeing conflict in Sudan - 17/08/2023 04:33
- Darfur: Rapid Support Forces, Allied Militias Rape Dozens - Human Rights Watch - 17/08/2023 04:29
- South Sudan is gearing up for its first election – 3 things it must get right - 16/08/2023 09:08
- South Sudan, Uganda yet to resolve captured grains - 16/08/2023 07:58
Older news items
- Cardinal Parolin in South Sudan: Humble service can overcome ‘plague of revenge’ - 16/08/2023 06:10
- South Sudan expresses concern over US warning on business risk - 16/08/2023 05:55
- Sporting Lagos sign South Sudan midfielder - 16/08/2023 05:22
- Turk decries “disastrous” impact of war in Sudan, urges accountability - 16/08/2023 03:17
- South Sudan raises spending plan amid jitters on economy - 15/08/2023 07:45
Latest news items (all categories):
- UNDP and the Office of the Vice President Launches the Women and Youth Leadership Program in South Sudan - 14/02/2025 11:37
- The Grave Blunders And The Paradoxical Ways In Leadership Sector - 14/02/2025 11:32
- ADF approves $153.66 million for Uganda-South Sudan electricity interconnection project - 13/02/2025 20:48
- Rwandan peacekeepers in South Sudan get UN service medals for their service - 13/02/2025 20:44
- Afreximbank seeks to claw back US$657mn debt from South Sudan - 13/02/2025 20:30
Random articles (all categories):
- After a long fight for freedom, South Sudan cracks down on dissent - Reuters - 14/03/2013 07:27
- Question only to the fragile colleagues of Mayom Paul Abol Lok - 22/08/2020 15:53
- South Sudan Conflict: West Threatens Sanctions - 20/03/2014 17:29
- Italian company plans to build abattoirs across South Sudan - 17/02/2021 01:02
- South Sudan 'Failing' at Resource Management - 16/05/2013 12:03
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 73082 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 22397 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 21623 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 19506 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 19257 times