Pope Francis has expressed his intention to meet President Salva Kiir and the First Vice President Dr Riek Machar in the Vatican, a church leader has revealed.

During his first visit to Africa in November 2015, Pope Francis held a private 15-minute meeting with President Kiir in Kampala.

The intention of the meeting was to support peace and reconciliation efforts in South Sudan.

Dr Roko Taban Musa, the Apostolic Administrator of the Catholic Diocese of Malakal, told Eye Radio that Pope Francis told the bishops from Sudan and South Sudan during their recent meeting in Rome, that he wants to meet President Kiir and Dr Machar.

“As a man of supreme moral authority in the world, the Pope will be able to play a great role in bringing together, not only in bringing together the two men, but making the two men work together for peace, for prosperity and for freedom in this country,” Dr Taban said.

Dr Taban said the Secretariat of State at the Vatican will announce the historic visit of the Pope to South Sudan as soon as it receives the invitations from the Bishops and the President.

Dr Taban urged Dr Machar to return home for the Transitional Government of National Unity and to also travel to meet the Pope.