Rome Newsroom, Apr 22, 2022 / 03:45 am
A bishop of South Sudan said on Thursday that during this summer’s expected papal visit, Pope Francis will see that the country is still working to implement peace.
Pope Francis will travel to South Sudan’s capital city of Juba from July 5-7, following a July 2-5 visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The trip motto comes from John 17: “I pray that all may be one.”
Bishop Christian Carlassare, who was consecrated bishop of South Sudan’s Diocese of Rumbek on March 25, said in the north African country, Pope Francis will not find “peace realized, but peace persisting.”
Carlassare told a group of about two dozen journalists via video call from South Sudan on April 21 that the logistics of the pope’s trip will be difficult, but the national security authorities are prepared to handle it. “There are no major risks” to Pope Francis’ safety, he added.