Pope Francis (center) meets an internally displaced person during a meeting at the Freedom Hall in Juba, South Sudan, Feb. 4, 2023. (Photo: AFP).

Pope Francis has encouraged internally displaced persons from across the country not to lose hope and look to a brighter future after listening to their testimonies on Saturday afternoon.

The Pontiff met and interacted with the hundreds of IDPs from across the country, who have been living in squalid conditions since the outbreak of violence in 2013.

Also present in the meeting were the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland at Freedom Hall.

Dr. Ian Greensfield, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland opened the event with prayer, and the UN Humanitarian Coordinator gave her witness account of the dire humanitarian situation across the country.

Sara Beyeslow Nyanti said the event was an opportunity to draw the world’s attention to the plight of millions of suffering South Sudanese.

Nyanti said the situation is worrying at a time when multiple humanitarian crises are emerging concurrently.

“Humanitarian context in South Sudan is 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 lack of access to healthcare.”

Testimonies

The internally displaced persons meeting the pope, entrusted two minors with telling the story of their suffering and resilience through the years of civil war.

First, a teenage boy who was displaced to the Bentiu PoC, grew up inside the displacement camp and completed his primary and secondary school in there.

He tells the pope that he is worried about his future and asked for a prayer for peace in his country.

The next speaker was a young girl from the former Protection of Civilian Site in Juba. She narrated her experience in the camp with optimism and thanked Pope Francis for meeting them.

Do not lose hope

While addressing the IDPs, Pope Francis thanked them and said he had been thinking about them for a long time.

“Dear brothers and sisters, thank you for your prayers, your testimonies and your singing,” he said.

“I have been thinking about you for a long time with a growing desire to have this meeting, to see you face to face, shake your hand and embrace to embrace.”

Francis reiterated his appeal for an end to the suffering of the displaced people, and called on the government to create a conducive environment for their resettlement.

“That is why I want to renew my forceful and heartfelt apple to end all conflict and resume the peace process in a serious way.”

“So, violence can end, and people can return to leaving with dignity. Only with peace stability and justice can there be development and social reintegration. There is no room for further delay.”

He told the teenage boy who spoke earlier; “There is a need for all children to have the opportunity to go to school and have a field to play football.”

“There is a need for you to grow in an open society for different groups to mingle and to form a single person and face the challenge of integration even to speak the language of others, not just of your tribe.”

“Brother and sisters, once more I look at you, I see your eyes weary, but bright.”

“Don’t lose hope. I see you mouth which have not lost the strength to pray and sing. I see you with empty hands but hearts full of faith. You bear the burden of the painful past, yet you never stopped dreaming of a better future.”