South Sudanese are reflecting on the impact of Pope Francis’s visit to their country one year later.
The Pope’s tour, which took place in 2019, was a historic event for South Sudan, and many are considering what has changed in the time since his visit.
During his time in South Sudan, Pope Francis met with President Salva Kiir and his former vice-president turned rebel leader Riek Machar. He also held a mass in the capital, Juba, where he urged the leaders to maintain peace and work towards reconciliation.
In the year following the Pope’s visit, South Sudan has seen some progress towards peace. The country’s leaders have established a unity government, and there have been some efforts to implement a ceasefire and work towards ending the ongoing conflict.
However, many challenges still remain, and the country continues to face humanitarian crises and political instability.
Reflecting on the legacy of the Pope’s visit, some South Sudanese are hopeful that it has helped to inspire positive change in their country. Others are more skeptical, pointing to the ongoing challenges and noting that it will take much more than a visit from the Pope to bring about lasting peace and stability.
Despite the mixed reactions, many South Sudanese are grateful for the Pope’s visit and the attention it brought to their country.
They are hopeful that it has helped to shine a light on the ongoing struggles in South Sudan and encouraged the international community to continue supporting efforts towards peace and reconciliation in the country.
