Opinion

South Sudan church leaders work for peace, but soldiers won't listen

Tue, 28 Sep 2021 11:27:08 -0400

YAMBIO, South Sudan -- Pope Francis may have kissed the feet of South Sudan's warring political leaders in a dramatic 2019 appeal for peace, but armed conflict continues to cause death and displacement in the world's newest country, pushing Catholic leaders here to plead for the conflict's victims.

Two nuns killed in South Sudan after vehicle ambushed along highway

Wed, 18 Aug 2021 15:10:26 -0400

NAIROBI, Kenya -- Two Catholic nuns were shot and killed along a highway in South Sudan Aug. 16 as they were returning home to Juba. Seven other sisters survived the attack.

South Sudan's bishops praise peace agreement

Thu, 29 Aug 2019 10:27:15 -0400

NAIROBI, Kenya -- Catholic bishops in South Sudan praised the recent peace agreement for neighboring Sudan, which has experienced political turmoil since April, when the military ousted Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

South Sudan's Christian leaders say papal kiss is message of Easter

Thu, 18 Apr 2019 13:00:31 -0400

NAIROBI, Kenya - Pope Francis' surprise kiss on the feet of South Sudanese political leaders is the message of Easter, the country's Christian leaders said in a joint Easter message.

At retreat for South Sudan leaders, Pope literally begs for peace

cns@catholicnews.com (Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service) — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 15:31:16 -0400

VATICAN CITY - At the end of a highly unusual spiritual retreat for the political leaders of warring factions, Pope Francis knelt at the feet of the leaders of South Sudan, begging them to give peace a chance and to be worthy "fathers of the nation."

Pope scheduled to address South Sudan leaders meeting at Vatican

Tue, 09 Apr 2019 11:04:24 -0400

VATICAN CITY - To help bring lasting peace to a nation scarred by civil war, Pope Francis was scheduled to speak with and bless leaders from South Sudan gathered for a spiritual retreat at the Vatican.

Pope Francis encourages South Sudan peace process, hopes to visit

cns@catholicregister.org (Catholic News Service) — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 09:47:58 -0400

VATICAN – As the process to implement a peace accord in South Sudan continues, Pope Francis met March 16 with South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and expressed the hope that, finally, he would be able to visit the country.

Peace deal 'fatally flawed', South Sudan bishops say

cns@catholicregister.org (Catholic News Service) — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 10:53:25 -0500

JUBA, South Sudan – South Sudan's peace deal is fatally flawed, the country's bishops said as they committed the church to helping forge new negotiations. They also recommended a series of measures to end the conflict.

Only South Sudan, Sudan citizens can build peace in their countries, bishops say

cns@catholicregister.org (Catholic News Service) — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 13:35:45 -0500

NAIROBI, Kenya – Catholic bishops in South Sudan and Sudan appealed to the citizens of the two countries -- including those in diaspora -- to work harder for peace, telling them, "True peace can only be built by citizens like you."

South Sudanese religious leaders say dialogue, trust critical to long-term peace

cns@catholicregister.org (Catholic News Service) — Wed, 25 Jul 2018 13:13:13 -0400

NAIROBI, Kenya – As South Sudanese peace negotiations tackled the last outstanding issues, church leaders called for genuine dialogue, healing and trust building, so that politicians have the will to implement a peace pact.