Pope kisses feet of South Sudan leaders, urging them to keep the peacePope Francis kneels to kiss feet of the President of South Sudan Salva Kiir at the end of a two day Spiritual retreat with South Sudan leaders at the Vatican, April 11, 2019. [REUTERS]Pope Francis chats with South Sudan President Salva Kiir. [REUTERS]His appeal was made even more pressing as anxiety grew in South Sudan that Thursday’s coup in neighboring Sudan might put at risk the fragile peace deal that ended South Sudan’s brutal five-year civil war. So, as simple citizens, you will become fathers of the nation.” Sudan, which is predominantly Muslim, and the mainly Christian south fought for decades before South Sudan became independent in 2011. SEE ALSO :Ex Vatican boss George Pell jailed for six years for sexual offencesA general photo of South Sudan's peace delegation and Pope Francis (centre).

Source: Standard Digital April 12, 2019 07:52 UTC