Pope Francis will lead prayers at the mausoleum of South Sudanese liberation hero John Garang on Saturday, an acknowledgement of the importance for the world's youngest nation of perhaps the one leader who could ensure unity.
Hundreds of thousands of people died as a result of the war, which was fought largely along ethnic lines, and resulting hunger and disease from 2013-2018.
Despite being baptised at an early age in the Anglican church, Garang embraced diverse Christian teachings, his son, Mabior, told Reuters. Garang began his career as a fighter with separatist rebels in the south before being conscripted into the Sudanese army after a 1972 peace deal. Garang rallied South Sudan's disparate ethnic groups behind a common cause. The fighting ended with a 2005 peace deal in which the south won significant autonomy and the right to decide its future in a referendum six years later.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Pope wraps up Congo visit, heads to volatile South SudanPope Francis wraps up an emotional visit to Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday and heads to neighbouring South Sudan, another nation struggling to overcome decades of conflict and grinding poverty.
Read more »
Pope Francis takes peace mission to South Sudan after DRCThe 'pilgrimage of peace' is the first-ever papal visit to the country since the predominantly Christian nation gained independence from Muslim-majority Sudan in 2011.
Read more »
Pushing for peace in South Sudan, Pope Francis visits nation in shamblesFor a pope who has prioritized outreach to the developing world, majority-Catholic South Sudan has long represented an ultimate test in the church’s ability to help in nation-building.
Read more »
Pope implores South Sudan's leaders to end bloodshed, recriminationsPope Francis began a visit to South Sudan on Friday with an impassioned plea to its fractious leaders to turn their backs on the violence, ethnic hatred and corruption that have stopped the world's youngest country from achieving peace and prosperity.
Read more »
Pope Francis arrives in South Sudan in hopes he can revive the peace processPope Francis has arrived in South Sudan, on the second leg of a trip to Africa he has called 'a pilgrimage of peace.' It's the world's youngest country with a large Catholic population, and has suffered violent conflict since the end of its civil war.
Read more »
Pope Francis lands in South Sudan to urge peace as fighting kills 27Pope Francis has landed in South Sudan, opening the second and final leg of his African pilgrimage with plans to encourage the young country’s stalled peace process.
Read more »