Pope Francis heard testimonies from an Internally displaced Person who met with him in Juba on Saturday.
His Holiness tells the IDPs that he has long growing desire to hear from the affected people in South Sudan, to see them face to face, to shake hands, and to embrace them
“Now at last I am here, together with my brothers on this pilgrimage of peace, to express to you all my closeness, all my affection. I am with here you, and I suffer for you and with you,” Pope said.
Due to the devastation caused by human violence, as well as that caused by the floods, millions of our brothers and sisters like you, including many mothers with children, have had to leave their lands and abandon their villages and their homes. Sadly, in this war-torn country, being a displaced person or a refugee has become a common and collective experience.
Pope renews his call for a forceful and heartfelt appeal to end all conflict and to resume the peace process seriously so that violence can end and people can return to living in dignity.
“Only with peace, stability, and justice can there be development and social reintegration. There is no room for the further delay: great numbers of children born in recent years have known only the reality of camps for displaced persons. They have no memory of what it means to have a home; they are losing their connection with their native land, their roots, and their traditions,” His Holiness added.
He says there is a need for all children to have the opportunity to go to school – and to have a field to play football
While answering some questions from IDPs, Pope says there is a need for young people to grow as an open society, for different groups to mingle and to form a single people by embracing the challenges of integration, even learning the languages spoken throughout the country and not just those in your particular ethnic group.
“With everyone from the heart: let us help South Sudan; let us not abandon its population. They have suffered and they continue to suffer so greatly,” he reiterated.
Pope mentioned that is in solidarity with South Sudanese refugees living outside the country and those who cannot return because their territories have been occupied.
“I am close to them and I trust that they can once again take an active role in shaping the future of their land and contribute to its development constructively and peacefully.”
Some of the IDPs present their testimonies to His Holiness.
Joseph Laat, an IDP from Bentiu said appealed to the leaders to bring lasting peace, love, unity, and prosperity and asked Religious Leaders to continue praying for lasting peace in South Sudan.
“Why are we suffering in the IDP Camp? Because of the ongoing conflicts in our country, the youngest independent country. We have been also affected by floods since 2020, and thousands of families have been displaced from their villages and towns, losing their livestock and crops,” Laat said.
Johnson Juma Alex, 14 years old sheltered in Malakal Protection of Civilians Camp said the affected people want peace.
“I came to the PoC in 2014 because of the problems in Malakal town. Peace is good, problems are not. We want peace so that people can go back to Malakal, to their homes.”
Nyakuor Rebecca, a member of Holy Trinity Parish who lives in the camp of Juba says she is excited to meet the Pope physically and the visit of Holiness brings hope to the people of South Sudan.
“It is an honor to be here with you. On behalf of the children of South Sudan, I want to thank you for your visit. We know that you are a great leader because despite your bad knee you have come to be with us, bringing hope and a message of peace.”