Pope arrives in South Sudan to push for peace

By Benjamin Takpiny

JUBA, South Sudan (AA) – Pope Francis on Friday landed in South Sudan, the world’s youngest country and one of its most troubled, hoping to spur a stalled peace push and draw global attention to a devastating humanitarian crisis.

His flight from neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo landed in the capital Juba at around 3 p.m. local time (1300GMT), where thousands gathered to welcome him, including President Salva Kiir Mayardit.

The pope will spend three days in South Sudan, along with Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Rt. Rev. Iain Greenshields, moderator of the Church of Scotland, on an ecumenical pilgrimage for peace.

In DR Congo, Francis called for forgiveness and a need to break what he termed a “cycle of violence.”

He urged Africa’s youth to craft a new future by overcoming ethnic rivalries and rooting out corruption, identifying them as the main issues fueling bloody conflicts on the continent.

Francis will remain in Juba until Sunday, where he will hold meetings with various officials, diplomats, church leaders, and civil groups, as well as people affected by the violence that has plagued South Sudan for years.