As South Sudan marked its 11th anniversary of independence, a Catholic bishop lamented that Africa's newest nation continued to face numerous challenges that threaten peace and unity and block opportunities for long-term reconciliation.
Catholic bishops in South Sudan praised the recent peace agreement for neighboring Sudan, which has experienced political turmoil since April, when the military ousted Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.
A Ghanaian bishop urged Catholic leaders from Africa to use Pope Francis' environmental encyclical "Laudato Si'" as the basis of their work and to encourage others involved in ecological work to do the same.