Cardinal Michael Czerny is welcomed at Juba International Airport on Feb. 2, 2024. (Credit: Vatican Media.)

Top Vatican official Michael Czerny, who is currently in Juba, appealed to the South Sudanese people to pray and ensure that their upcoming general elections is transparent and nonviolent.

Cardinal Czerny arrived in Juba on Saturday in a trip to mark the first anniversary of Pope Francis’ ecumenical peace pilgrimage to South Sudan and DR Congo in February 2023.

Speaking at a Sunday mass, the prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Integral Human Development said the December 2024 South Sudan elections is a critical moment for country’s political life.”

“As you prepare for the general elections, pray and work hard to ensure that it is nonviolent, fair, transparent, credible and peaceful,” he said, according to Catholic news site, Crux.

“There is groundwork to be done, putting into place needed infrastructures in the political sphere, preparing your minds and hearts for possible transition.”

Czerny said that a peaceful transition of power is not only a sign of “political maturity,” but also assures good governance and holistic development, “both of which are so needed.”

“I therefore urge you to be faithful to the peace agreement, not just you but also members of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU), and all signers of the peace agreement,” he said, referring to the 2018 power-sharing accord.

Cardinal Czerny said it is critical that South Sudan’s integrity and commitment bring about the unrealized remaining steps outlined in the 2018 peace deal for successful election to take place.

“The full implementation of these prerequisites will be a guarantee to the population of South Sudan that never again will there be bloodshed, never again will South Sudanese fear insecurity in their own country and never again will the South Sudanese need to seek refuge in other countries due to violence.”

Among the various activities in the pastoral visit, the Cardinal will lead a mass in the Cathedral of St. Theresa in Juba on Sunday, February 4.

He will also travel to Malakal and pray in the church of St. Josephine Bakhita, on February 8, which is the World Day of Prayer and Reflection against Human Trafficking, before meeting refugees and returnees.

The visit of Cardinal Czerny marks one year since Pope Francis made a historic trip to South Sudan on February 3, 2023, fulfilling a long-time wish to visit the war-torn country.

The Pope undertook the trip together with the head of the Anglican Communion, Archbishop Justin Welby, and the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Rt. Rev. Iain Greenshields.

The Holy Father met with political leaders, civil society, and the diplomatic corps in the garden of the Presidential Palace on the evening of his arrival.

On February 4, 2023, Francis met with bishops, priests, nuns, and seminarians at the Cathedral of St. Theresa in Juba, before meeting internally displaced persons at Freedom Hall later in the day.

He then participated in an ecumenical prayer service at the John Garang Mausoleum and on Sunday, February 5, presided at the Eucharist at the John Garang Mausoleum.