(24 Apr 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rejaf, South Sudan – 23 April 2025
1. Catholic priest Father James Rombe praying for Pope Francis with the students of St Lawrence Minor Seminary
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Fr. James Rombe, Priest:
"I was saddened by the death of Pope Francis and my reaction was that we have lost a good pope."
3. Fr. James walking in the seminary compound
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Fr. James Rombe, Priest:
"My first time to meet the pope was in Rome, when I was a student in 2017."
5. Tracking shot of Fr. James walking in the seminary compound
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Fr. James Rombe, Priest:
"And we were so happy. He passed greeting us, shaking hands one by one, and that was the first time to touch the pope."
7. Wide of Fr. James walking in seminary compound
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Fr. James Rombe, Priest:
"And when he said that ‘South Sudan is here,’ touching his chest with the rosary, ‘here in my heart,’ I shed tears. I was touched, I was deeply moved. So that was the first encounter with the pope. It was amazing, I will never forget, I think it’s an unforgettable moment of my life. And when I heard that the pope died, that first meeting with him came to my mind. And I cried."
9. Wide of Fr. James entering chapel
10. Various of students entering chapel
11. Various of Fr. James and his students inside chapel
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Fr. James Rombe, Priest:
"When our leaders were invited to Rome, we were there as students, we thought that it was a normal program, a normal event happening. But then what changed everything was when he knelt down and kissed their feet."
13. Poster with image of Pope Francis reading (English) "Welcome to South Sudan Pope Francis"
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Fr. James Rombe, Priest:
"We were all shocked. Everyone was shocked. He taught our leaders a big lesson on humility and what it means to be a servant, a servant leader."
15. Various of Fr. James leading students in prayer
16. SOUNDBITE (English) Fr. James Rombe, Priest:
"To work for peace, especially in South Sudan, he gave everything: his commitment, dedication, prayers, everything, encouraging our people, pushing our people to dialogue in order to bring peace. And also calling for hope at least for our people. And when he came to South Sudan, that was the powerful message that we all received from him. Hope. To be hopeful. And these two words always go together: hope and peace."
17. Student praying in front of Pope Francis banner
18. SOUNDBITE (English) Gabriel Ladu Joseph, Seminary Student:
"The important message he passed last time to South Sudan was concerning the togetherness and the love we as South Sudanese have to show to each other. This one was a very important message he gave to us. We have to be one. We have to be united."
19. Fr. James leading students in prayer
20. SOUNDBITE (English) Fr. James Rombe, Priest:
"I will really pray that the cardinals who will be part of the coming conclave must be faithful to the Holy Spirit. If they are faithful to the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit will direct them to bring the pope that is needed in this time. So for me the talks on whether the pope must come from Africa or from where, I don’t really concentrate on that. But if God wants, why not? It will happen!"
21. Mid of students and Fr. James inside the chapel
STORYLINE:
Pope Francis has left an important mark on South Sudan.
A large banner of Pope Francis stood behind the altar at the chapel of St Lawrence Minor Seminary in Rejaf, a village located in the vicinity of Juba, South Sudan’s capital.
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