Pope's envoy on peace mission in South Sudan

Cardinal Turkson

Pope Francis has sent a special envoy to South Sudan to urge for an end to violence in the country and to help establish dialogue and trust between the warring parties. Cardinal Peter Turkson, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, travelled to the capital Juba this week to give support to the Archbishop and to meet with the country's leaders.

He carried with him a letter from the Pope for President Salva Kiir and one for Vice President Riek Machar who are historic enemies and represent the different ethnic groups.

For almost a year, South Sudan has been trying to emerge from a civil war caused by political rivalry between the Vice President and the President. Violent clashes across the city have left tens of thousands of people dead since December 2013 and a recent flare-up of fighting has caused more casualties, scores of displaced people and a serious humanitarian crisis.

Although a ceasefire is currently in effect in Juba, the threat of more violence continues to loom large.

Cardinal Peter Turkson arrived in Juba last Sunday early enough to celebrate Mass with the faithful, the Archbishop, the priests and the religious.

He told Vatican Radio the situation is desperate.

He said the violence which flared on the fifth anniversary of the country's independence recurs intermittently, and many people have been killed.

The situation is very hard on the civilian population who are forced flee the violence to save their lives, leaving their homes to be looted. occupied or destroyed.

"A lot of the women and children and even boys have sought refuge in Churches and in schools - and that is where they live - and the priests and brothers and nuns try to take care of them as best as they can" he sid.

The Cardinal said the authorities he has met have promised to do their best to put a programme of reform on course towards elections in 2018. That process was derailed by recent events but the President maintains the course can be resumed.

"We brought them the greetings of the Pope, his solidarity, two letters he had addressed to the President and to the Vice President - the two protagonists of the conflict" he said.

The Cardinal says his own effort was "to try to get them to come together at some point, to see if we could facilitate a reconciliation, to help them build some trust and confidence in each other."

Cardinal Turkson also spoke of the urgent need for help and said he has already contacted Cor Unum in Rome to see what medical aid can be organised.

The displaced population is living in the open and in classrooms and are victims of mosquito bites so there is malaria, dysentery, "there's even talk about cholera in some areas," he said. "So there's a need for medication and there's a need for food supplies."

Source: Vatican Radio