An ecumenical delegation from South Sudan met privately with Holy Father Pope Francis and again invited him to visit the war-torn nation, which they said is in desperate need of hope as the situation becomes more dire. The Bishops exhorted that they would like to celebrate this Easter also as a resurrection of people from their suffering.
As reported by CNA, His Excellency Bishop Paride Taban of Torit in South Sudan remarked that “We are here as an ecumenical body…we came as Christians to show that the body of Christ is bleeding. The people need hope. They need healing, they are crying for peace, which cannot be brought by arms, but by love, by a sense of compassion, a spirit of love and forgiveness which God has shown to us, especially now.”
More than 2 million civilians have fled the country in the four years since violence broke out. Neighboring Uganda has so far taken in more than 1 million refugees from South Sudan, leaving resources strained. His Grace Bishop Taban and His Excellency Archbishop Odama of Guru, Uganda, voiced gratitude to His Holiness Pope Francis for holding the Feb. 23 day of prayer and fasting for peace in South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Syria.
Source: www.catholicnewsagency.com
