Juba, South Sudan
CNN
—
Pope Francis arrived in Juba, South Sudan, on Friday, fulfilling a long-held wish to visit the war-torn country.
For the first time, the Pope was joined by Archbishop Justin Welby, head of the Anglican Church of England, and Rt. Pastor.
“South Sudan, ravaged by years of war, desperately wants to end the constant violence that has displaced so many people and forced them to live in extremely difficult conditions. I do,” the pope said on Tuesday before leaving Rome for Africa.
According to the United Nations Refugee Agency, South Sudan faces the third largest refugee crisis in the world. About 4 million refugees have fled the country or are internally displaced in South Sudan, more than half of them children.
South Sudan gained independence from Muslim-majority Sudan in 2011 after decades of conflict. Fighting broke out between Vice President Machar and those who had allied with him, plunging into civil war. group.
In April 2019, the Pope held a spiritual retreat for South Sudan’s political and religious leaders at the Vatican, kneeling in an unprecedented gesture and kissing the feet of President Kiir and Vice President Machar.
