Pope Francis has ended his peace pilgrimage to South Sudan by celebrating an open air mass attended by tens of thousands in Juba.
He urged the congregation to reject what he called the “venom of hatred”, and told them to lose no opportunity to build peace.
And he pleaded with the country’s leaders to focus on ending conflict.
Before leaving, he told the crowd: “Dear brothers and sisters, I return to Rome with you even closer to my heart.”
Excited Catholics, some who camped overnight for the Mass, told Reuters it was a joyful moment.
“To this moment I do not sleep, I was very excited,” Jovana Buyom said.
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"We are really very happy with the coming of Pope because he will give us the message of peace, we can unite as South Sudanese people,"
Juaj Bol Ayuel
His voice wasn’t a solitary one: his visit took the form of an ecumenical pilgrimage for peace in the company of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
Together they prayed with the people and called for unity; the three voices were one issuing a powerful appeal for peace and reconciliation in the divided nation. Together they challenged the country’s political leaders to stand true to their pledges to work for the common good, and to shy away from corruption and personal benefits.
Pope Francis has left for Rome, Italy after successfully concluding his three-day ecumenical visit to South Sudan.
The pontiff, alongside the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, Dr. Ian Greenfields came to Juba, South Sudan on February 3rd.
During his stay, the Roman Catholic leader met with President Salva Kiir, the clergy, and internally displaced persons before conducting a holy prayer on Sunday.
The Pope in his last remarks offered blessings to women who he described as the future of the country, but are yet the most sufferers of the consequences so of the civil war.
He said as he goes back to the Vatican, he leaves behind hope and peace in South Sudan.
The religious leader prior to his conclusive remarks called on South Sudan leaders to stop pitying tribes against one another and desist from injustices and corruption dealings.
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