SOUTH SUDAN: Bishop Carlassare Call on Civilians to Get Rid of Weapons and Embrace Dialogue
Bishop Christian Carlassare of Rumbek Diocese, South Sudan
Ginaba Lino
The newly installed Catholic Bishop of Rumbek Diocese, Rt. Rev. Christian Carlassare, has asked civilians members of the population in South Sudan to get rid of weapons and promote dialogue as means of solving differences.
He stresses that weapons are supposed to be held by security personnel, not ordinary civilians.
Bishop Carlassare urges the people of Rumbek to resolve their misunderstandings through dialogue and give peace a chance.
The prelate appreciates the government’s commitment to peace, urging authorities to work on reconciling local communities, especially in rural areas, for sustainable peace and security.
“Thanks to Government and the Governor of Rumbek, and many other people that are committed to peace; thank you for our country is thirsty for peace. Thank you for your commitment to this, this is the process that has to be brought down to all territories of this country. Unfortunately, we hear that in the area of Warrap, there are still difficulties and we should work with Government to bring peace all over our country.”
The new bishop also encourages everyone to support the people in the rural areas with basic services so that they can enjoy the fruit of peace.
“We should all support each other so that all people can finally live in peace and their security is guaranteed. Let us improve their living conditions. When we go in the rural areas, we see it clearly that people are lacking services and so they are suffering. Let us be near to all as much as we can and bring forth a better future.”
While addressing the faithful at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Rumbek after the installation ceremony of the new bishop, the Vicar General of Rumbek Diocese, Fr. Andrea Osman Okello said, they are very happy and they thank God for giving them a new father, Rt. Rev. Christian Carlassare, as the bishop of Rumbek Diocese.
We praise God,” Fr. Osman said, disclosing that Bishop Carlassare will be in charge of 16 parishes under the Rumbek Diocese which span from Mayen Abun in Warrap State to Kalthok of Lakes State in the East and Wulu to the South, as well as Rumbek North County of Maper in the north.
On his part, the Lakes State Governor Rin Tueny Mabor urged the Christians to work with their new leader.
“On behalf of the government and of people of Lakes State I congratulate Bishop Christian Carlassare for his consecration as Bishop of Rumbek Diocese. We thank his Holiness Pope Francis for appointing Bishop Christian Carlassare and we thank his Lordship, Mathew Remijo Adam, the Bishop of Wau Diocese who was the Apostolic Administrator of Rumbek Diocese,” he added.
The consecration of Bishop Carlassare was done concurrently with the submission of the court documents by both the prosecution team and the defense team to the court concerning the case of his shooting on April 26, 2021.
The High Court Judge, Alexander Sabor Subek, noted that the court verdict on the case would take place on April 15, 2022.
The ceremony was attended by all the Bishops’ of South Sudan including Retired Archbishop of Khartoum, Gabriel Cardinal Zubeir Wako, national and state government officials.
Bishop Christian Carlassare was installed by Cardinal Gabriel Zubeir Wako on the feast of the Annunciation of the Lord which on 25, of March 2022 as the Bishop of Rumbek Diocese.
At the time of his appointment, Fr. Carlassare had been serving in South Sudan’s Malakal Diocese since he arrived in the country in 2005.
Rumbek Diocese became vacant in July 2011 following the sudden death of Bishop Caesar Mazzolari on 16 July 2011.
