SOUTH SUDAN: Bishop Hiiboro Prays Pope Francis Desire to Visit South Sudan Soon Becomes Reality
Rt. Rev. Edwardo Hiiboro, Bishop of Tombura-Yambio Diocese
Rt. Rev. Edwardo Hiiboro Kussala, the Bishop of Tombura Yambio has intimated that the probable visit of the Holy Father Pope Francis to South Sudan in 2020 would be an ecumenical mission whereby the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, Most Rev. Justin Webly together with the Leader of the Presbyterian Church in Scotland are likely to join.
Bishop Hiiboro who until the last Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops of Sudan and South Sudan, was the president of the Bishops Conference acknowledged the collaboration between the Vatican, the Anglican Church Canterbury and the Presbyterian Church in Scotland who in April this year organized a special retreat for the South Sudanese Political leader at the Vatican.
“All these three people, The Holy Father Pope Francis, The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and the leader of the Presbyterian Church in Scotland met our political leaders at the Vatican and they committed themselves to help in prayer, advocacy and necessary advice. Together they promised to journey with the people of South Sudan until lasting peace prevails. Therefore, the coming of the Holy Father to South Sudan will be a joint mission, a joint visit to South Sudan together with the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and the Presiding Archbishop of Presbyterian Church in Scotland,” Bishop Hiiboro explained.
According to Bishop Hiiboro who completed his term as President of Sudan and South Sudan Catholic Bishops Conference in October this year, the probably visit of Pope Francis and his religious counterparts will be a special occasion as it will unite all the Christian communities in South Sudan.
Asked whether there are any official confirmations about the visit, Bishop Hiiboro explained that the Holy Father only expressed it as his strong desire to come to South Sudan.
“The Holy Father has been repeated expressed his desire to come to South Sudan; it means that this is something he really wants. So we need as a local church and as a country, all of us including the Church in the whole of AMECEA Region to pursue this intention of the Holy Father.”
Meanwhile Bishop Hiiboro on behalf of the Catholic Church in South Sudan thanked Pope Francis for being truly “a father, a pastor, a leader and as the vicar of Christ for being so close to the people of South Sudan. His gestures remind us of what Christ talked about of leaving the 99 worthy people, good people and go after the one that is lost.”
“We the people of South Sudan have been lost in conflict, we have been lost in the world of war, of division, of poverty. Pope Francis continues to look for us to bring us back to join the other 99. And I thank him that throughout his papacy, he has continued to remind us that he loves us and that we are very close to his heart.”
By Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Online News
