Fr. Lombardi said this was a special gesture on Francis’ part. The Pope has been keenly keeping up to speed with the country’s efforts towards peace.
After his courtesy visit to the President of Uganda, Museveni, Francis held a private 15-20-minute meeting with the President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, at the Apostolic Nunciature in Kampala. Fr. Federico Lombardi said this in a statement, explaining that the South Sudanese president had requested the meeting and that “the Pope naturally accepted because South Sudan is a country in great need of peace, so he wished to give his encouragement for reconciliation. There was also a delegation from South Sudan present, the members of which Francis greeted briefly,” Fr. Lombardi informed. The Vatican spokesman said this was a special gesture on the Pope’s part and he has been following developments in the country’s peace efforts with keen interest.
Fr. Lombardi also stated that the day before yesterday, in Kenya, Pope Francis met a father and son, whose wife and mother was killed in one of the terrorist attacks carried out by Al-Shabaab in Kenya. In Nairobi, Francis also met a group of AIDS sufferers who are being looked after by the Community of Sant’Egidio.
vatican insider staff
