With just a couple of weeks to go before the Republic of South Sudan officially becomes
the newest nation in the world, a network of Catholic religious is appealing for solidarity
and support for the people in one of the poorest parts of the planet. South Sudan
in fact ranks at the bottom of the UN’s ‘quality of life’ index for the world’s 193
countries. The illiteracy rate there stands at 85%, the vast majority of people live
well below the poverty line and one in every four children dies before the age of
five. That’s why this international network of men and women religious, Solidarity
with South Sudan is calling for all support of all kinds – financial, advocacy, awareness
raising or prayers – as they seek to rebuild, empower and reconcile a people emerging
from half a century of civil war. At a press briefing hosted by the Australian
embassy to the Holy See on Thursday, the director of the network, Loreto Sister Pat
Murray talked to Philippa Hitchen about the organisation and about the needs of the
people in South Sudan…