"Today we are still in the situation of war, we need unity - that is what you are going to sing when the Pope comes," the Emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Khartoum Cardinal Gabriel Zubeir Wako has told worshippers.
The cardinal, who is already in Juba ahead of the pontiff's visit next week, added "let’s do away with division, let us do away with hatred and sow love".
He said unity is what South Sudanese want at this time because "it’s missing very much", and said Pope Francis' visit must re-plant the seed of unity, hope, love and togetherness in people's hearts.
"We are asking the Pope to pray with us for peace and understanding amongst our people," Cardinal Wako added.