“We can raise the attention and the interest of the international community towards your situation just to provide the means to solve your problems to go back to your places of origin in a very safe and dignified way,” the Italian-born Cardinal said, and further affirmed, “I promise you, we will try to do so.”
He went on to extend Pope Francis’ closeness with the refugees and returnees he was addressing on August 15, saying, “I am here also on behalf of the Holy Father to show to the people of Malakal and also to you, especially you that found yourself in such a difficult stressing situation, the solidarity of the Holy Father and the solidarity of the Catholic Church.”
“This solidarity is not empty hand solidarity because the Catholic Church is committed to helping you in whatever way they can,” the Vatican Secretary of State said, and emphasized, “This is the solidarity of the Holy Father; this is the solidarity of the universal Church; this is the solidarity of the local Church.”
He continued, “I am happy to know that the Church is not the only one that is helping you, taking care of you; there is the local government represented by the honorable Governor, and there are international organizations who are helping you.”
“The best thing is that there is cooperation between different agencies,” the 68-year-old Catholic Church leader further said, and added, “I encourage this collaboration, this cooperation; it is very important because when we put (together) our forces, maybe they are not so big, they are not powerful, but when we put (them) together, we achieve something better than when we act alone.”
The Vatican official encouraged the refugees and returnees from Sudan to “remain strong and patient amidst the hardships and tough times.”
“I assure you of our prayers and closeness of the Pope. Be strong, be patient. By the Grace of God, the help of all the good people in this world will find a solution to your situation,” Cardinal Parolin said during his August 15 meeting with refugees and returnees, who gathered at their reception center in Malakal.
Earlier, addressing journalists after meeting South Sudanese President, Salva Kiir Mayardit, on August 14, the Vatican official urged the people of God in the world’s youngest nation to “embrace the spirit of peace and reconciliation in order to build a harmonious society in the country.”
He was set to visit the Catholic Diocese of Rumbek on Thursday, August 17, where he would preside over Holy Mass at Holy Family Cathedral of the South Sudanese Diocese and interact with members of the Clergy, women and men Religious, and Laity before returning to Juba.
Kerbino Kuel Deng is a South Sudanese journalist who is passionate about Church communication. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.
