South Sudanese Stephen Ameyu was created by Pope Francis in September 2023, after the latter's visit to the country. The archbishop of Juba remembers the opening of the sovereign pontiff to the African continent and to different cultures.
Just elected, François said that we came to get him “Almost at the end of the world”. What imprint does the first pontiff sovereign from the southern hemisphere leave after twelve years of pontificate?
The choice of an Argentinian was a surprise for the whole world and a major advance for the universality of the Church and Catholicity. It was a time, most of the Catholics were in Europe, today, they are more numerous in the southern hemisphere. Pope Francis has made changes to reflect this diversity, in particular by appointing many cardinals.
The first thing we will remember about Pope Francis is his concern to listen to everyone, his approach to a merciful father. He looked at the poor opposite and stated that this was the Church, the one that God had entrusted to him so that he strengthens and builds it. Remember his quote that “The Shepherd must smell the smell of sheep”. This means that the shepherd must live with his sheep. And this is what he did during his travels around the world, especially in many African countries. He even came to South Sudan!
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Source: Lemonde