By: Ginaba Lino/CRN
The Apostolic Nuncio to South Sudan has called on the country’s leaders to honor the legacy of His Holiness Pope Francis by actively embracing and implementing his message of peace.
His remark came during a solemn requiem Mass held in Juba to pay final respects to the late Pope, which top leaders from the government and other denomination attended.
Archbishop Séamus Patrick Horgan urged both government leaders and citizens to transform the Pope’s call for peace into tangible actions that foster unity, dialogue, and reconciliation across the nation.
“If the people of South Sudan truly wish to honor Pope Francis and move forward, they must strive to make his heartfelt wish for lasting peace a reality in their daily lives,” Archbishop Horgan said. “We need more than just kind words. We must see concrete efforts to silence the weapons of war and promote dialogue as the path to genuine, enduring peace.”
Archbishop Horgan highlighted Pope Francis’s deep love for the people of South Sudan and recalled his extraordinary commitment to peace in the country, including the historic moment in 2019 when he kissed the feet of South Sudanese leaders during a spiritual retreat at the Vatican—a gesture that stunned the world and symbolized the Pope’s humility and desire for reconciliation.
The Nuncio emphasized that the Pope’s message remains highly relevant, even as the country continues to struggle with violence in various regions. “Though the world mourns his passing, we must also take this moment to reflect and renew our commitment to the peace he so tirelessly championed,” he added.
Meanwhile, President Salva Kiir Mayardit, in his condolence message, assured the people of South Sudan that the government will continue to uphold and cherish the Pope’s message of peace.
“The message of His Holiness to us as the people and government of South Sudan has always been peace, and we will forever cherish that,” President Kiir said. “I will always remember his powerful message to us during our visit to Rome in 2019. He was a humble, kind, and compassionate man of God who cared deeply about the peace and future of South Sudan.”
President Kiir expressed sympathy on behalf of the government and the people of South Sudan, praying that God receives the soul of Pope Francis with grace.