South Sudan: Cardinal Parolin meets ill toddler, urges tenderness and aid
By Salvatore Cernuzio - South Sudan
As Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, continues his visit to the African nation of South Sudan on Pope Francis' behalf, he is calling for tenderness, aid, and closeness to a suffering people, and in a special way, its suffering children.
The Cardinal seemed disturbed by what he was told, and inquired: "Can nothing be done?"
Nelson, one year and seven months old, is sick with a degenerative disease, which, if left untreated at this stage of life, risks making him blind very soon.
On Thursday, he was sucking his thumb and staring at a spot in the void, wearing pink Crocs that the parish nuns got for him. Despite the Cardinal's closeness and attention, Nelson turned away, taking refuge in the arms of his mother, Bakhita.
Bakhita's surname is Mansur. She is 25 years old and during the encounter, she never raised her eyes to look at the Cardinal, unlike other women who stretched out their arms for greetings. One elderly woman, who was blind, even dropped to her knees and kissed the Cardinal's hands and pointed to her covered eyes.
Bakhita's story
Bakhita, on the other hand, stayed silent, with eyes that looked they could burst into tears at any moment. Another woman, Amer, urged her to speak up, but Bakhita only mouthed an inaudible 'Thank you'. Nothing else.
Nor would she respond to Vatican News' requests that she share more about Nelson's condition, and what else is needed to help him.
"Pray," she replied, turning away. Amer intervened again to explain that the child would need money to move to Khartoum where his aunt lives and where there are specialist clinics.
Just pray
Bakhita had already spent whatever little savings she had to travel to Wau and Juba. She made this journey alone with the child, as her husband is a soldier.
She had been told that her child could be treated in Juba, but that has not been possible. Now she would just like to go to Khartoum, but she did not want to leave her number or other contact information.
"Pray. Pray," she said.
The Cardinal made the Sign of the Cross over her and assured her of spiritual closeness, not only his own, but also the closeness of the Pope whom the Cardinal was representing in these days in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The clergy of Juba
Cardinal Parolin went on to hold the meeting with the local clergy in Juba.
According to the inhabitants of Juba, the area where the meeting was held is best described as 'chic'.
To get there one has to cross roads that are impassable on foot, dusty, uneven, and full of bumps and potholes where rubbish is burned. In the smell of rot and over the remains of charred plastic, children play in flip-flops and bare feet or sit with their mothers watching the cars go by. The children are watched by armed soldiers dressed in camouflage sitting in jeeps.
They went back and forth in front of the parish while Cardinal Parolin spoke to the priests, nuns and religious about being clergy committed to and ready to serve the poor. Some of the clergy told the Secretary of State of their own stories of service of the people or for education. Every so often, the Cardinal looked out toward little Nelson.
Church's action
"Children are the hope for the future," the Cardinal underscored.
However, he lamented in his address, oftentimes they lack what they need to survive and thrive.
While in Europe there is a demographic winter, in Africa small lives continue to be born and grow. However, for them, there are not enough resources. This reflects a severe paradox in a fertile and resource-rich land like South Sudan that could easily live off exports.
Cardinal Parolin also highlighted that the Church also does something to help, like providing food and medicine, however, "everything remains insufficient," he added.
A commitment of the International Community is needed, he suggested, "given that in South Sudan, in the coming months, almost a third of the population will be left without humanitarian assistance from the World Food Programme due to severe food insecurity."
About 1.7 million people are at risk of dying from hunger. "A commitment to solidarity is needed to alleviate the suffering of others," said Cardinal Parolin.
Prophetic voice
He suggested that the Church, for her part, in addition to material aid, has to better spiritually assist the people.
"It must be a prophetic voice," urged the Secretary of State, reassuring the consecrated men and women that "the Church in South Sudan is not alone, but is in communion with the Pope. This is a great source of inspiration, consolation and encouragement for you."
It is a Church, moreover, that despite the difficulties it faces, must consider itself "fortunate" because, the Cardinal pointed out, "people have not lost the religious sense of life".
To these people, "the Church must be a model and example of communion," Cardinal Parolin concluded, urging them to go beyond difference and show God's tenderness.
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