Pope Francis Meets 2,500 Refugees in South Sudan

Pope Francis met 2,500 internally displaced persons during his visit to Juba, South Sudan, on Feb. 4, 2023. Elias Turk/CNA

“You, from all your different ethnic groups, you who have suffered and are still suffering, you who do not want to respond to evil with more evil. You, who choose fraternity and forgiveness, are even now cultivating a better tomorrow,” he encouraged those present.

“Be seeds of hope,” he said, “which make it possible for us already to glimpse the tree that one day, hopefully in the near future, will bear fruit.”

During the meeting, a video showed IDP camps in South Sudan and interviews with refugees who spoke about fleeing their homelands.

Pope Francis with Right Rev. Iain Greenshields (L) and Archbishop Justin Welby (R) during a meeting with refugees in Juba, South Sudan, on Feb. 4, 2023. Vatican Media

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The encounter also included prayers led by the Moderator of the Church of Scotland Iain Greenshields and the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who joined Pope Francis for a final blessing on the participants.

Sara Beysolow Nyanti, a representative of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, gave a presentation on the humanitarian situation in South Sudan, which she called “worrying.”

“For over a decade, the South Sudanese people have experienced conflict, social and political instability, climate shocks, violence, displacement, food insecurity, lack of education opportunities, and access to health care systems,” she said.

Pope Francis greets Sara Beysolow Nyanti, a representative of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, during a gathering with 2,500 internally displaced persons in Juba, South Sudan, on Feb. 4, 2023. Vatican Media

South Sudan has the largest refugee crisis in Africa, with 2 million IDPs due to conflict, insecurity, and environmental challenges, the U.N. Refugee Agency reports.

There are also more than 2 million South Sudanese refugees living in neighboring countries.

Nyanti said in her presentation that an estimated 8 million people in South Sudan are expected to experience food insecurity in 2023.

Pope Francis meets a boy living in an IDP camp during a gathering in Juba, South Sudan, on Feb. 4, 2023. Vatican Media

Pope Francis also heard testimony from two 14- and 16-year-old boys and from a young girl, who are living in IDP camps.

The young people asked for peace in their country so that they and other children can have a positive future.

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Nyakuor Rebecca speaks to Pope Francis during a gathering with refugees in Juba, South Sudan, on Feb. 4, 2023. Vatican Media

“In the name of Jesus, I want to ask you to give a special blessing for all the children of South Sudan so we can grow together in peace and love,” Nyakuor Rebecca asked Francis. “Pope Francis, we love you. Thank you for loving South Sudan.”

At the end of his speech, Pope Francis responded to her request, and said he would give a special blessing so that the children of South Sudan “might grow up together in peace.”

Hannah Brockhaus is Catholic News Agency's senior Rome correspondent. She grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, and has a degree in English from Truman State University in Missouri.