Vatican Holds Spiritual Retreat for Peace in South Sudan | Nairalaw

ROME — Pope Francis has told leaders of South Sudan that peace
is possible and urged the country’s leaders to seek what unites and
overcome what divides.

At the end of a two-day meeting in the Vatican, the pope shocked
those present by kneeling and kissing the feet of South Sudan’s
former warring leaders.

At the end of the two-day meeting in the Vatican, originally
proposed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, Pope
Francis told South Sudanese leaders to recognize the enormous
shared responsibility they hold for the present and future of their
country.

Those attending the meeting included South Sudan’s President
Salva Kiir, vice president and former rebel leader Riek Machar, and
three other vice presidents.

The pope called on them to commit themselves to the building of
their nation.

The pope said, “People are wearied, exhausted by past conflicts:
remember that with war, all is lost! Your people today are yearning
for a better future, which can only come about through
reconciliation and peace.”

The pope said this meeting was “something altogether special and
in some sense unique,” as it was neither an ordinary bilateral nor
diplomatic meeting between the pope and heads of state, nor an
ecumenical initiative involving representatives of different
Christian communities. Instead, it was a spiritual retreat.

South Sudan’s civil war, which broke out in late 2013, has
killed tens of thousands and displaced more than 4 million South
Sudanese from their homes. A peace deal last August has reduced but
not stopped the fighting.

One of the South Sudanese religious leaders attending said these
were days of intense prayer and deep reflection and of open and
frank dialogue and spiritual conversation.

“The leaders leave here renewed and committed to the task of
working for peace, striving for reconciliation and seeking justice
for the 13 million people, the South Sudanese, whose prayer and
hope they all carry.”

Pope Francis told them how he learned last September that a
peace agreement for the country had been signed and congratulated
political leaders for “having chosen the path of dialogue.” He
urged them to implement what has been agreed on.

The pope expressed his heartfelt hope that hostilities would
finally cease, that the armistice would be respected, that
political and ethnic divisions would be surmounted, and that there
would be a lasting peace for all those citizens who dream of
beginning to build the nation.

After his speech at the end of the retreat, Pope Francis kissed
the feet of the former warring leaders and told them their people
are waiting for their return home, for reconciliation, and a new
era of prosperity.

Kwara Police Command Reacts to Rumours of Terrorists in
Helicopter

The Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Police Command Cp Kayode
Egbetokun, wishes to assure the good people of Kwara State of the
Command ‘s commitment to the security and safety of lives and
property of the citizens.

The Command is not unaware of the concern of some citizens over
a false alarm going the rounds to the effect that, an Helicopter
was sighted at Lalaji town, in Edu Local government area of the
State, discharging men bearing dangerous weapons in the bushes.

Even some online reporters went public with the unsubstantiated
rumour without recourse to the Command, this is very unprofessional
and highly provocative. However, the Command for the umpteenth time
is assuring the people of Kwara State of its capability to provide
security for the citizens.

The people sighted at Lalaji town were a team from Padlink
Resources Limited, who were at the location to conduct geological
mapping and mineral exploration, with the approval from the Federal
Ministry of Mine and Steel Development under the National
Integrated Mineral exploration project (NIMEP).

The people of Kwara are advised to pass informations of any
suspicious movements within their areas through the established
channels made available by the Command, rather than making false
statements that is capable of creating unnecessary tension in the
State.

Journalists, especially bloggers and online reporters are
advised to always verify their stories before going public, the
Kwara State Command holds and will continue to hold members of the
press in high esteem.

The good people of the State are advised to go about their
normal businesses, and disregard the false news of terrorists
invading the state, the Nigeria Police Force and sister security
agencies in the state are working round the clock to ensure that
good people of Kwara sleeps with their two eyes closed, please.

Dsp Okasanmi Ajayi
Police Public Relations Officer,
Kwara State Command