Ethiopian Cardinal: May the leaders of South Sudan hear the Pope's appeal for peace
By Joseph Tulloch and Francesca Sabatinelli
Cardinal Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel, Archbishop of Addis Ababa, was at the Pope鈥檚 side for the duration of his recent trip to South Sudan, which borders his own country of Ethiopia.
In the South Sudanese capital of Juba, he spoke to SA国际传媒 about the Pope鈥檚 appeal for peace, saying that the Lord would listen to the prayers of the nation, and expressing his hope that political leaders would too.
Also discussed in the interview were the simplicity of the Pope鈥檚 visit, and the importance of collaboration between different Churches in the region.
The Pope鈥檚 appeal for peace
鈥淲hen the Pope spoke of peace, reconciliation, forgiveness, and coexistence,鈥� said Cardinal Souraphiel, 鈥淚 heard that the people applauded very loudly.鈥�
鈥淭hey want to have a normal life,鈥� he said, 鈥渁 normal school, they want to be able to play. They spoke of all this to the Pope and asked him to pray for them: this touched me very much. I believe that the Lord will hear them, and all the saints and all the martyrs who have suffered here will help too. I believe the Lord will hear their prayers, their tears.鈥�
The question, he said, is whether South Sudan鈥檚 political leaders listen too.
A simple visit
Cardinal Souraphiel also stressed the impact that the Pope鈥檚 simplicity had made on him.
鈥淗is simplicity touched me greatly,鈥� he said. 鈥淗e came as a simple man and with this simplicity he also made this appeal, again, to the civil leaders of this new country, South Sudan.鈥�
He suggested that this simplicity had also made an impression on the political authorities in South Sudan.
鈥淔our years ago, the Pope invited them to the Vatican for a spiritual retreat together,鈥� he said. 鈥淗e kissed their feet and said: 'You have the responsibility to be close to your people, not to show power, but service, as good shepherds.' And that was really appreciated.鈥�
Churches together
The Cardinal went on to emphasise the 鈥渟pecial importance鈥� of the ecumenical nature of the Pope鈥檚 visit, which saw him travelling in the company of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
It was also important, he said, that he himself had come as a representative of the Church in Ethiopia, showing support for its neighbour. 鈥淲e came,鈥� said Cardinal Souraphiel, 鈥渢o be with them and to show them that we are with you, we pray for you.鈥�
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