Pope Francis meets with President of South Sudan

Pope Francis meets with President of South Sudan

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis held a private 15-minute meeting with South Sudan's President Salva Kiir on Friday, in Uganda’s statehouse. Fr. Federico Lombardi, the head of the Holy See Press Office, said "It was a private meeting."

South Sudan declared its independence from Sudan in 2011, and has suffered from a civil war since late 2013. The conflicted started after President Kiir had a falling-out with his vice president, Riek Machar.

"The reason for this meeting,...and the intention of the pope, was obviously in service of the peace and reconciliation in the land," Lombardi added.

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