Vatican City, Mar 10, 2010 / 14:33 pm
Bishops representing the nine dioceses of Africa's largest country are at the Vatican this week for their "ad Limina visit." Among the contemporary issues the bishops will discuss with Pope Benedict are the upcoming elections, keeping peace and addressing poverty.
Speaking with Vatican Radio, Bishop Cesare Mazzolari of Rumbek in southern Sudan described some of the issues facing the Catholic Church and the people in the nation.
The meetings in the Vatican, he said, have an "immense value" in the days leading up to presidential and parliamentary elections that are set to take place on April 11. He expressed his hope that through a Vatican appeal this week the country can ensure a "serene road" to the elections and see a "true consolidation of peace."
A peace accord was signed in 2005 in Sudan that separated the parliament and the military, Bishop Mazzolari explained. This process is moving forward "very slowly," he said, and peace is fragile.