The Pope in South Sudan: "Let us pray for peace in Africa and in Ukraine"

   The Pope greets South Sudan and says he wants to leave two words: hope and peace.

The Pope entrusted to Our Lady "the cause of peace in South Sudan and in the entire African continent. We also entrust to Our Lady peace in the world, especially the numerous countries that are at war, such as the battered Ukraine".

Francis concluded: "All three of us return - he said referring to the archbishop of Canterbury and the moderator of the Church of Scotland - carrying you even more in our hearts. I repeat: you are in my heart, you are in our hearts, you are in the hearts of Christians from all over the world! Never lose hope. And do not miss the opportunity to build peace. May hope and peace abide in you, hope and peace abide in South Sudan".

"Hope is the word that I would like to leave to each of you, as a gift to be shared, as a seed that bears fruit. As the figure of Saint Josephine reminds us - he said in the Angelus referring to the African saint Josephine Bakhita -, hope , especially here, is in the sign of women and I would like to thank and bless all the women of the country in a special way".

More than 100,000 people attended the celebration.

   In addition to hope, "I would like to associate another word, the word of these days: peace. With my brothers Justin and Iain - he said referring to the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Moderator of the Church of Scotland -, whom I thank from my heart, we are come here and we will continue to accompany your steps, the three of us have come together doing everything we can so that they are steps of peace, steps towards peace".

The Pontiff then entrusted "the path of reconciliation and peace" to Our Lady, "the Queen of Peace".