Pope appeals for an end to violence in Sudan

Pope Francis has called for an end to violence in Sudan and a return to the path of dialogue.

In remarks following the Regina Coeli, Sunday 23 April, Pope Francis invited everyone to pray ‘for our Sudanese brothers and sisters’.

People looking for water in Khartoum North. Photo: Vatican Media

WelCom May 2023

Pope Francis has called for an end to violence in Sudan and a return to the path of dialogue.

In remarks following the Regina Coeli, Sunday 23 April, Pope Francis invited everyone to pray ‘for our Sudanese brothers and sisters’. 

Violence erupted earlier last month as Sudan’s regular army forces battled the paramilitary ‘Rapid Support Forces’ in a struggle for power in the beleaguered nation. Hundreds of people have died in the fighting, with thousands more injured. In his remarks at the Regina Coeli, Pope Francis appealed for an immediate end to violence ‘and a return to the path of dialogue.’

The Pope also looked ahead to his Apostolic Journey to Hungary, which he also visited in 2021 for the International Eucharistic Congress. Pope Francis noted, ‘it will also be a journey to the centre of Europe, over which the icy winds of war continue to blow,’ with the resulting movement ‘of so many people puts urgent humanitarian issues on the agenda.’

The Pope said he was looking forward to his visit with the Hungarian people and he asked everyone to accompany his journey with prayer, not forgetting ‘our Ukrainian brothers and sisters, still afflicted by this war.”

The Holy Father mentioned several other issues close to his heart including Earth Day, observed throughout the world on 22 April. ‘I hope that the commitment to care for creation will always be united with an effective solidarity for the poorest.’