Vatican Ambassador visits Malakal, calls for peace

3 Mar 2015

Vatican Ambassador visits Malakal, calls for peace

27 February 2015 - In learning about the overall situation of the Catholic Church in South Sudan, Vatican Ambassador to the country Archbishop Charles Daniel visited the Upper Nile capital Malakal today.

The Ambassador said he had also come to “bring the words of the Holy Father to support people who are undergoing a difficult situation and to promote peace and reconciliation”.

As the pope’s representative to South Sudan, he had also visited Juba and Rumbek, Archbishop Daniel said.

Upper Nile Acting Governor Gwinye Philip Chan described the Archbishop’s visit as historic.

“I call this visit historic because to us it has a number of significances,” he said. “This visit serves as a consolation for the faithful and citizens of Upper Nile State, and (it also) ensures (them) that the Church has not forgotten them.”

He said the visit would give the Ambassador a first-hand report on the situation in Upper Nile. “I think this will be a chance to tell the world and to convey the message of the people of Malakal that despite that happened they are all calling for peace.”

UNMISS representative Benjamin Ahadzi said the presence of the Papal Nuncio in Malakal was a signal for peaceful co-existence among communities. “This visit will set a tone for peace, reconciliation, forgiveness and tolerance.”