The news of passing of His Holiness, Pope Francis, has shaken the world. Not because we expected him to live forever, none of us will, but because of the immense love, humility, and compassion he carried, even in frailty and failing health.
Pope Francis was receiving good medical care, yes. But no one ever quite prepares for losing someone so deeply respected.
Today, as a South Sudanese and as a member of the Christian family, I send my heartfelt condolences to the Vatican, to the Roman Catholic Church, and to all believers around the world. We have lost a spiritual father, a peacemaker, a man whose love knew no borders.
For South Sudan, this is more than global news, it hits home. Pope Francis was not just a distant religious leader. He came to us. He got on his knees in 2019, kissed the feet of our leaders, especially President Salva Kiir and Dr. Riek Machar among others, not to embarrass them, but to beg for peace. That image, that moment, said more than any political speech ever could.
And then in 2023, despite his health struggles, he traveled to Juba. He stood among us at the Dr. John Garang Mausoleum, praying for unity, hope, and healing. He saw our brokenness, and still, he showed up. That’s what love looks like.
Now, with his passing, the question we must ask ourselves is: what do we do with the legacy he left behind? Are we living out the peace he pleaded for? Are our leaders doing everything in their power to honor that sacred gesture?
Let me borrow a phrase from our own Minister of Information, Hon. Michael Makuei Lueth “whether we like it or not,” Pope Francis believed in us. He believed South Sudan could be better than war, corruption, and division. So what are we doing with that belief?
This is not the time for silence. It’s not the time for political calculations. It’s the time for leadership with soul. If I were President Kiir, I would declare a national mourning in honor of Pope Francis. Not for show, but to reflect the impact he had on our country. And Dr. Machar, too, must speak out not as a political figure caught in old cycles, but as a leader willing to rise with purpose.
Let’s also not pretend that international pressure, like the one coming from the U.S., is an attack. It’s a wake-up call. Sometimes, it takes outside voices to remind us of what we already know deep down that this country is bigger than our personal ambitions.
Pope Francis gave us a gift. His humility, his presence, his prayers, they were not ordinary gestures. They were reminders that peace begins with each of us choosing it, every single day.
South Sudan, now is our moment to honor that legacy not just with words, but with actions that heal and unite.