Pope Francis Cautions South Sudan Authorities As Peace Process Slows

Pope Francis warned South Sudan’s political leaders on Friday that history will judge them harshly if they continue to put off implementing a 2018 peace accord. Pope Francis was visiting South Sudan as part of an unusual ecumenical peace mission.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Rev. Iain Greenshields, accompanied him to the largely Christian nation.

Francis has referred to this as a “forgotten crisis,” and they want to bring it to light.

South Sudan declared its independence from the largely Muslim Sudan in 2011, but since then, there has been civil war and another fighting.

The 35.5C heat as President Salva Kiir greeted the religious leaders at the airport in the capital, Juba.

Francis’ motorcade route was lined with Christians, Muslims, and traditional dancers waving Vatican, South Sudanese, and British flags.

“The pope is closest to God,” said Poni Jadalla, 45, as she waited to welcome Francis on the first-ever papal visit to the country.

“Let the pope give us peace so that this country can develop and no more bloodshed.”

The Catholic, Anglican, and Presbyterian leaders have called for the country’s political leaders to put aside their differences and work for the good of their people.

In his first address on South Sudanese soil, Francis addressed former rivals Mr. Kiir and deputy Riek Machar, who were gathered in the garden of the presidential palace.

“Future generations will either venerate your names or cancel their memory, based on what you now do,” Francis said.

“For just as the Nile leaves its sources to begin its course, so the course of history will leave behind the enemies of peace and bring renown to those who are true peacemakers.”

Mr. Kiir, Mr. Machar, and other opposition groups signed the peace agreement in 2018 ending five years of civil war that killed hundreds of thousands of people.

But the deal’s provisions, including the formation of a national unified army, remain largely unimplemented. The delays have forced the postponement of the country’s first presidential election for another two years.