“May be another day”: Gloom as Attempts by South Sudanese Youths Seeking Visas for Jubilee in Rome Thwarted

Sr. Orla did not appear hopeful that attempts to appeal the embassy’s decision would give positive feedback.

“We are trying to find a way to appeal, but it doesn't look promising,” the Irish member of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (IBVM), popularly known as Loreto Sisters, said, adding, “In this event, I will not travel to Rome without the youth.”

Credit: Sr. Orla Treacy/Loreto Sisters/Rumbek

Earlier, while describing the mood of the would-be pilgrims from Rumbek Diocese, who had been selected to participate in the pilgrimage in Rome, Sr. Orla told ACI Africa that what the young people felt was anxious excitement.

The Sister who has coordinated several youth pilgrimages in the Diocese of Rumbek told ACI Africa on July 16, “Everyone is anxiously excited.”

She was, however, keen to add, “Until we get the visas we don’t know for sure if we are actually going to get to travel.”

South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation that gained independence from Sudan in July 2011, has been weighed down by decades of civil strife and instability and therefore has limited diplomatic presence.

The young Catholics in the country, who were seeking visas to Italy had to travel to the neighboring Ethiopia. Undoubtedly, they first had to secure visas to enter Ethiopia itself.

Their struggle is an example of the numerous hurdles that many Africans must overcome to travel to Rome as pilgrims.

Organizers of the event in Rome have said that compared to other continents, participation from Africa may be “delicate” owing to a number of challenges.

The Director of youth ministry in Rome, Fr. Alfredo Tedesco, told ACI Prensa, ACI Africa’s sister news service, that there would be African representation in the Jubilee celebrations, “but not as numerous.”

“Some countries haven’t been able to send delegations due to visa or diplomatic issues or armed conflicts. There will be African representation, but not as numerous. The Dicastery and the Holy See have made arrangements to facilitate some visas,” Fr. Alfredo said.

African countries that have managed to get their young people to travel to Rome for the Jubilee of Youth have cited immense support of Italian embassies in their countries.

In Tanzania for instance, over 200 young people have been granted visas to travel for the pilgrimage.

In an interview with ACI Africa on July 23,  the head of the Youth Department at the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) expressed gratitude to the Italian embassy in the East African country for ensuring that every young person who “met their end of the deal” went through the visa application successfully.

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“We have had no single problem with the Italian embassy. Everyone who met their end of the deal has gotten their visas,” Fr. Liston Lukoo said, and added, “The only problem was that the embassy was overwhelmed by our large numbers. Over 200 interviews is not a joke. The embassy has organized interviews with our young people to this day (July 23) and we hope that this last lot will get their visas tomorrow.”

Young people from other African countries have not been as successful. From Ethiopia, a youth leader wrote to ACI Africa on July 15, saying, “The Italian embassy in Addis Ababa has been very harsh on us. As a result of that, I don’t know of any young person who is going. Those I know have been denied visas.”

From Kenya, Fr. Pascal Mwambi who coordinates activities of the African Digital Youth Influencers  (ASYFI) wrote to ACI Africa on the same day, expressing similar frustrations. “I don't have a visa yet. The appointment I got is for September. Attempts to seek an earlier appointment have so far not been successful.”

Reacting to the unfortunate refusal by the Italian embassy in Ethiopia to grant visas to the South Sudanese youths desiring to participate in the pilgrimage in Rome, a section of Clergy and Religious in Rumbek Diocese has called for patience, expressing optimism that a future attempt will be successful.

“Please don't give up,” a Priest said in his message of solidarity with the South Sudanese denied visas. He added, in his Thursday, July 24, note, “Another time it will be possible, with prayer. Courage our dear Sr. Orla, Fr Mangar and our youth. Praying for your safe journey as you come back from Addis Ababa.”

Meanwhile, organizers of the Jubilee of Youth in Rome have confirmed several key activities for the pilgrimage on the official Jubilee of Youth website. Planned to set the mood for the pilgrimage is a welcome Holy Mass to be celebrated in St. Peter's Square on Tuesday, July 29, at 6:00 p.m. (local time).

In the following days, Rome will host numerous cultural, artistic and spiritual initiatives throughout the capital city of Italy, under the title, “Dialogues with the City”.

Friday, August 1 has been reserved as a Penitential Day, to be celebrated in the Circus Maximus, where pilgrims will receive the Sacrament of Penance.

On Saturday, August 2, pilgrims are to move to Tor Vergata. And finally, on Sunday, August 3, Pope Leo XIV is expected to preside over Holy Mass at 9:30 a.m., before bidding farewell to the young pilgrims who will be required to return to their native countries.