Machar’s office says Pope Francis plans to visit South Sudan in February 2023

JUBA – First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny’s office has revealed that it has been informed that Pope Francis is planning to fulfill his promise of visiting the world’s youngest country with the onset of the extended transitional period in February 2023.

This comes after Machar met in his office with the Apostolic Nunciature in South Sudan, His Grace Msgr. Ionut Paul Strejac who was sent by the Holy See to hand over a gift of book containing messages of peace to the first vice president.

“The First Vice President of the Republic, H.E. Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, has today met in his office with the Apostolic Nunciature in South Sudan, His Grace, Msgr. Ionut Paul Strejac,” Machar’s office said in a statement seen by Sudans Post.

“His Grace, Paul, was sent by His Holiness, Father Pope Francis to hand over a gift and letter to the First Vice President. The gift is in the form of a book which contains messages of peace and reconciliation,” the statement said.

According to the statement, Machar briefed the Vatican diplomat and was informed that Pope Francis is planning to travel to South Sudan, which was supposed to take place last July, in February 2023, just at the end of the current transitional period.

“H.E. the First Vice President also briefed the Pope’s representative on the status of the revitalized peace agreement and the roadmap signed by the party signatory to the agreement,” the statement said.

“The Vatican representative of the Pope further revealed that His Holiness, Pope Francis, plans to visit South Sudan in February, 2023,” the statement added.

Speaking to the media in a video published by the office of the first vice president, His Grace Paul said he has been sent to deliver a message of peace to the first vice president, but did not made mention of the panned Papal visit.

“I was very pleased to meet the first vice president in order to bring him a letter from Cardinal Parolin following his visit in July and also a present from the cardinal and the holy father,” he said.

“And also, to talk about the situation and the development in the country and looking forward to stability and unity of this country,” he added.