Pope kisses S. Sudan rival's feet to strengthen peace
- Country:
- Italy
Pope Francis knelt and kissed the feet of South Sudan's rival leaders on Thursday, in an unprecedented act of humbleness to encourage them to strengthen the African country's faltering peace process. At the close a two-day retreat in the Vatican for the African leaders, the pope asked South Sudan's president and opposition leader to proceed with the peace agreement despite growing difficulties. Then he got down on his knees and kissed the leaders' feet one by one.
The pope usually holds a ritual washing of the feet with prisoners on Holy Thursday, but has never performed such a show of deference to political leaders. "I express my heartfelt hope that hostilities will finally cease, that the armistice will be respected, that political and ethnic divisions will be surmounted, and that there will be a lasting peace for the common good of all those citizens who dream of beginning to build the nation," the pope said of South Sudan in his closing statement.
The spiritual retreat brought together President Salva Kiir and opposition head Riek Machar. Also present were Kiir's three vice-presidents. The pope kissed the feet of all of them. The South Sudanese leaders did not make any statement in response to the pope's plea for peace.
South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011 and in 2013, the country plunged into a bloody civil war, which left at least 400,000 people dead. The two-day Vatican meeting was held a month before the end of the shaky peace deal's pre-transitional period. On May 12th, opposition leader Machar is expected to return to South Sudan and once again serve as Kiir's deputy.
However, the agreement, which was signed in September in Khartoum, the capital of neighbouring Sudan, has been met with delays, missed deadlines and continued fighting with key aspects still not implemented.
(With inputs from agencies.)
- READ MORE ON:
- Francis I of France
- Pope Francis
- Francis Cabrel
- South Sudan
- South Sudanese pound
- South Sudanese Civil War
- Riek Machar
- African Americans
- Salva Kiir Mayardit
- Vatican City
- Flag of Vatican City
- Citizens Advice
- The Citizens' Voice
- Citizens United
- Animals as Leaders
- World Leaders
- University of Khartoum
- Khartoum International Airport
- Francis
- rival leaders
ALSO READ
Ecuador president says has more tools to fight crime, referendum count below 20%
Ecuador's President Noboa declares early victory in referendum, count below 20%
US President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden extend greetings on Mahavir Jayanti
US president Joe Biden greets Jain community on occasion of Mahavir Jayanti
Ecuador's President Noboa handily wins security-focused referendum