Pope Francis’ Kiss: Minor Gesture or Symbol of Peace for South Sudan?

For the past several years, South Sudan’s civil war has left hundreds of thousands of people dead and millions of refugees displaced from their homes. Prominent figures such as Bishop Eduardo Kussala have dedicated their time to establishing peace in the warring nation. During these trying times, even the smallest gestures, such as Pope Francis’ kiss last April, have made leaders hopeful for a brighter future.

During a Vatican and Anglican church-sponsored retreat in Rome, Pope Francis lowered himself to kiss the feet of South Sudan’s political leaders. To many, this gesture may not have meant much, but according to Bishop Kussala, it has led to a startling change.

Bishop Kussala said, “That gesture has made a tremendous impact on the process of peace itself because since that day, there has never been physical confrontation between the leaders, and they have kept on referring to this gesture, and they’re still trying to understand its meaning.”

Per Bishop Kussala, the African leaders saw the head of the church go down on his knees to kiss their feet as a shocking moment akin to divine intervention. Bishop Kussala believes that this kind gesture was an expression of something that he strongly believes will help bring about an end to the violence in South Sudan.

“We can … overcome obstacles only by humility.”

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https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2019/10/23/can-pope-francis-prophetic-kiss-protect-peace-process-south-sudan

Pope Heads to South Sudan in 2020 for Dialogue with Leaders

This past Sunday, Pope Francis addressed the Vatican with his intentions to join the dialogue on South Sudan by visiting the war-torn nation in the upcoming year.

For the past several years, South Sudan has been caught in a civil war that has left countless people dead or displaced from their homes. Sudan advocates have stated that the UN and other international parties need to be involved to help establish peace in the nation. People like Pope Francis hope to do just that in 2020.

During his address, the Pope stated that the country’s leaders need to uphold inclusive dialogue while searching for consensus for the good of South Sudan, while encouraging the international community not to neglect helping the youngest nation in the world on the path to national reconciliation.

No details have yet been announced of Pope Francis’ pilgrimage to South Sudan, but it is expected to be announced early next year.

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/pope-says-he-intends-to-go-to-south-sudan-urges-dialogue/2019/11/10/3c7a8d7e-03b2-11ea-9118-25d6bd37dfb1_story.html

South Sudan’s Bishop Kussala Fighting for Peace in the World’s Youngest Country

For several years, South Sudan has been embattled in a civil war that has left hundreds of thousands dead, and millions of people displaced from their homes. As the youngest country in the world is slowly rebuilding itself, people such as Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala are trying to expedite the process by brokering peace among the warring factions and raising awareness around the world.

Bishop Kussala, Vatican representative for peace negotiations, was raised by his grandmother in refugee camps after his mother and sister were killed when he was nine months old. He has committed his life to spreading the word of God and hope and establishing peace between the opposing forces in Sudan’s civil war.

For the past few months, Bishop Kussala, with aid from the Sudan Relief Fund, has been traveling across the United States to talk about why Americans should be aware of what is going on overseas. According to the Bishop, educating the people of America about South Sudan will move them one step closer to bringing the youngest country to a period of peace.

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South Sudan: Former Child Soldiers Attempt to Leave Behind Horrid Past

South Sudan is home to more than 19,000 child soldiers, one of the largest rates in the entire world. While the country is slowly emerging from a five-year civil war that has left hundreds of thousands of people dead or displaced, there is still concern over the possibility that former child soldiers could return to their war-centered lives.

Many children who were formerly soldiers admitted that even though the horrors of war were traumatizing, they still found comfort and stability in the military. The army offered them bedding and clothes, as well as a sense of belonging. These children now find themselves adrift with virtually nothing while the U.N. attempts to integrate them back into civilian society. Many worry that this long process could cause children to return to the military, and the fact that the rate of forced child soldier recruitments has increased in the past year only solidifies these concerns.

According to the National Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration Commission, the South Sudan government is not investing in child soldier integration, leaving many pessimistic about the future. With the upcoming unification of governments in November, there is hope that the peace deal will motivate the leaders to support to the cause.

https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/south-sudans-child-soldiers-struggle-move-66435959

Bishop Eduardo Kussala Stresses Need for Humanitarian Help in South Sudan

Although it is the youngest country in the world, South Sudan has seen more violence and war than many of its neighbors. The civil war that has been raging in the region for the past five years has led to hundreds of thousands of needless deaths, and more than 4,000,000 people being displaced from their homes. These people desperately need help, and fortunately, leaders such as Bishop Kussala are heeding the call.

According to Kussala, the U.S. government has pulled back diplomatically but is still providing humanitarian aid to South Sudan. However, in order to help South Sudan recover from the years of war, the U.S. will need to have a better relationship with the country by working with it hand-in-hand and leading it to prosperity. The US can also use its strong influence to encourage South Sudan’s neighboring countries to help bring stability to the war-torn region.

Bishop Kussala is continuously working with partners such as the Sudan Relief Fund to raise money and awareness for South Sudan, and he hopes that his visit to the U.S. will have a major impact on his efforts.

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South Sudan President and Rebel Leader Form Transitional Government

Recently, South Sudan’s president Salva Kiir met with rebel leader Riek Machar, and the two parties agreed on a coalition to help stabilize the region and form a transitional government by the 12th of November of this year.

When South Sudan split away from Sudan in 2011, the region had already suffered through decades of war, but the conflict only worsened in 2013 when Kiir fired Machar as his vice president, which led to a violent civil war between the government and an army of rebels.

Last year, Kiir and Machar had signed a pact calling for a unity government, however, it had been delayed because the South Sudan government said it did not have the money to fund disarmament and integration of armed factions. In the recent meeting, the two leaders discussed their plans to move forward with the pact, along with several provisions, including constitutional amendments, security laws, and the amount of regional states the country should have.

With the signing of this pact and the forming of the interim government less than two months away, there is hope that this bloody conflict will soon come to an end.

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Dr. Tom Catena Invited to Speak About Healthcare in Sudan at Upcoming 2019 World Health Summit

Each year, the World Health Summit brings together 2,500 high-level participants from 100 countries around the world to discuss opportunities and responsibilities in improving global health. This year, Aurora Prize Laureate and Chair of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative Dr. Tom Catena will speak at the summit to reflect on his experience treating patients in the war-torn areas of Sudan.

Dr. Catena is the Founder and Medical Director the Mother of Mercy Hospital in Sudan, and has spent the past decade serving as the only surgeon permanently based in the Nuba Mountains. Dr. Catena hopes the insight gained from his experience will motivate attendees at the World Health Summit to find efficient healthcare solutions for people living in remote regions.

In addition to speaking at the World Health Summit, Dr. Catena will also be attending the AidEx Nairobi Conference in Africa, giving lectures at Columbia University and Duke University, and participating in the Annual Conference for the Catholic Medical Association in Nashville, Tennessee. These speaking opportunities will allow Dr. Catena to raise awareness of the suffering in Sudan and hopefully encourage others to take action as well.

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