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Pope in South Sudan: 'Here a pilgrim of peace and reconciliation'

2023-02-03T15:06:24.562Z


Francis arrived in Juba, capital of South Sudan (ANSA) Pope Francis has arrived in Juba , the capital of South Sudan, the second stage of his apostolic journey to Africa. "Pilgrim here, I pray that in this dear country, a gift from the Nile, rivers of peace may flow; that the inhabitants of South Sudan, a land of great abundance, may see reconciliation blossom and prosperity sprout". These are the first words of Pope Francesc. He wrote them in the hon


Pope Francis has arrived in Juba

, the capital of South Sudan, the second stage of his apostolic journey to Africa.

"Pilgrim here, I pray that in this dear country, a gift from the Nile, rivers of peace may flow; that the inhabitants of South Sudan, a land of great abundance, may see reconciliation blossom and prosperity sprout".

These are the first words of Pope Francesc.

He wrote them in the honor book of the Presidential Palace where he will soon give the speech to the country's authorities

The UN alarm

.

It is a very poor country where, as the UN points out, there is a serious humanitarian emergency with two thirds of the population surviving thanks to humanitarian aid.

According to the United Nations, 9.4 million of the most vulnerable people will need urgent life-saving assistance and protection in 2023, up from 8.9 million in 2022. More than 2 million people have been displaced in the country, many of them for years .

"The cumulative and combined effects of years of climate-related shocks, such as floods and droughts, conflicts and subnational violence, have destroyed people's homes and livelihoods, depriving them of the future they deserve," says the UN.

Furthermore, for the fourth consecutive year the country is at risk of large-scale floods, causing destruction and displacement.

The security situation in South Sudan remains dire with widespread sexual violence and difficulties for humanitarian agencies to reach vulnerable populations.

South Sudan, reports the UN, is one of the most dangerous places for aid workers, due to armed violence, with nine aid workers killed and 450 incidents reported in 2022 and already three aid workers killed in 2023. "The direct victims of these attacks - explains the UN - are humanitarian workers, almost invariably South Sudanese citizens, but the indirect victims are the most vulnerable people" who are deprived of the aid without which they risk not surviving.

Despite this, the UN points out that the affected communities have continued to show "a great sense of resilience, solidarity and creativity".

The Pope, in his meeting with young people in Kinshasa, asks to say yes to "honesty" and no to "corruption"

.

"Let's say together: no to corruption", said the Pope speaking in French.

Then he cited the case of Floribert Bwana Chui who was killed 15 years ago in Goma for having blocked the passage of spoiled food which would have damaged people's health.

"He could have let go, they wouldn't have found out and he would have earned it. But, as a Christian, he prayed, thought of others and chose to be honest, saying no to the filth of corruption. This is keeping not only clean hands but the heart clean".

During the meeting in the Martyrs' Stadium in Kinshasa, the pontiff also asked not to let youth be ruined "by loneliness and closure. Always think of yourselves together and you will be happy, because community is the way to feel good about yourself, to be faithful to your calling.

Instead, individualistic choices seem tempting at first, but then they just leave a big void inside". The Pope gave two examples: drugs and witchcraft. "Think of drugs: you hide from others, from real life, to feel almighty;

and in the end you find yourself deprived of everything.

But think also of the addiction to occultism and witchcraft, which engulfs you in the pangs of fear, vengeance and anger.

Please, do not let yourselves be fascinated by false selfish paradises, built on appearances, on easy earnings or on distorted religiosity", the Pontiff warned. Pope Francis also warned young people from the world of social networks: "Virtuality is not enough, we cannot be satisfied with interfacing with distant or even fake people.

Life cannot be touched with a finger on the screen.

It's sad to see young people who spend hours in front of a telephone: after they look in the mirror, you look at their faces and see that they are not smiling, their gaze has become tired and bored.

Nothing and no one can replace the strength of the whole, the light of the eyes, the joy of sharing!

Talking, listening to each other is essential, being together is essential: while on the screen everyone looks for what interests them, discover every day, dear young people, the beauty of letting yourself be amazed by others, by their stories and their experiences", was the invitation of the Pope.

together, the light of the eyes, the joy of sharing!

Talking, listening to each other is essential, being together is essential: while on the screen everyone looks for what interests them, discover every day, dear young people, the beauty of letting yourself be amazed by others, by their stories and their experiences", was the invitation of the Pope.

together, the light of the eyes, the joy of sharing!

Talking, listening to each other is essential, being together is essential: while on the screen everyone looks for what interests them, discover every day, dear young people, the beauty of letting yourself be amazed by others, by their stories and their experiences", was the invitation of the Pope.

Listen to "From cobalt mines to school, another future for Congo children" on Spreaker.


Source: ansa

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