The Vatican has expressed its willingness to assist in resolving the crises in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan. Due to a knee injury, Pope Francis had to postpone his visit to both nations last month and Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the secretary of state for the Vatican, traveled in his place.
He said that he was impressed that the people in South Sudan were so welcoming. He continued by saying the nation has a promising future, but that it was essential to carry out the peace accord.
“The Catholic Church – especially the Holy See – is always open to intervention, for instance, mediation. We offer it in Europe, for instance on the occasion of the war that is going on in Ukraine,” he added. “I think also in Africa we are open if the parties [to the conflicts] are willing to do so.”
Pope Francis still plans to travel to South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo at a later time, and Cardinal Paolin has urged South Sudanese populations to heed the Pope’s exhortation to coexist “as brothers and sisters.”
