Pope Francis knelt to kiss the feet of South Sudanese leaders
On Thursday, Pope Francis knelt to kiss the feet of South Sudan’s
previously warring leaders, in a dramatic gesture after an unprecedented
retreat at the Vatican.
Pope however urged them to not return to a civil war. He also
appealed to President Salva Kiir, his former deputy turned rebel leader
Riek Machar, and three other vice presidents to respect any peace
agreement they signed and commit to forming a unity government in May.
“I am asking you as a brother to stay in peace. I am asking you
with my heart, let us go forward. There will be many problems but they
will not overcome us. Resolve your problems,” Francis said in his remarks.
The Sudanese leaders appeared to be stunned as the 82-year-old
pope, helped by aides, knelt with difficulty to kiss the shoes of the
two main opposing leaders and several other people in the room.
The Vatican brought together South Sudanese leaders for 24 hours of
prayer and preaching inside the pope’s residence in a last ditch
attempt to heal bitter divisions a month before the war-ravaged nation
is due to set up a unity government.
