President Salva Kiir has granted presidential pardons to 36 inmates on death row at Juba Central Prison.
In Republican order read on SSBC on Friday evening, Kiir also pardoned 35 inmates who were sentenced for failing to pay compensations or a court fines.
The acquitted inmates include four women.
Their release was decreed hours after the arrival of Pope Francis and other global faith leaders in South Sudan.
Kiir ordered the concerned authorities to execute the order.
According to section 285 of south Sudan’s criminal procedure, which talks about power to pardon, the President has a legal authority to remit the whole or part of the sentence and he or she may drop the conviction of any person for any offense.