SOUTH SUDAN: Archbishop Lukudu Eulogized as Servant Leader and Beacon of Peace
Burial of Archbishop Paulino Lukudu Loro, Emeritus of Juba Archdiocese, South Sudan Credit; Radio Bakhita
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
At farewell Mass for Most Rev. Paulino Lukudu Loro on Monday, April 12, the Archbishop-emeritus of Juba Archdiocese who died Monday, April 5, has been remembered as a prelate who dedicated his service to God and His people of God and untiringly worked for peace and reconciliation in South Sudan.
Reading the eulogy of the late Archbishop, the Auxiliary Bishop of Juba Rt. Rev. Santo Loku Pio highlighted that the late emeritus participated in various occasion to promote peace in the society.
The Metropolitan Archbishop “worked tirelessly for peace and reconciliation, justice, equality and human development,” Rt. Rev. Santo read the eulogy to mourners and continued, “In 1986, he led an ecumenical delegation to meet the then Prime Minister of Khartoum and later in Addis Ababa and his efforts resulted into a declaration which called for a Sudan free from racism, tribalism and all causes of discrimination and disparity.”
He further emphasized the late Archbishop’s effort in promotion of peace adding that during his leadership as the President of Sudan and South Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SSCBC) Archbishop Lukudu together with members of South Sudan Council of Churches (SSCC) intensified peace negotiations with the government of Sudan.
The late Archbishop who was a member of the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus (MCCJ) “led delegation of the Sudan ecumenical forum to Kampala (Uganda) and Nairobi (Kenya) on peace missions,” Bishop Santo disclosed, “He also led another delegation to London where Christians proclaimed with one voice the right of self-determination for the people of South Sudan in a document “Let My People Choose.”
According to Bishop Santo, the Archbishop emeritus who served as a Prelate for over 30 year, was to receive an award for reconciliation and interfaith cooperation in the course of this year (2021).
Other Religious and political leaders affirmed the late Archbishop’s efforts towards peace restoration and emphasized his role as a servant leader in the Church.
“During his long reign as spiritual leader of South Sudan, His Grace demonstrated not only a profound desire to minister to the needs of the Catholic Church but also a strong commitment to building up friendship and communion with the other Christian churches and communities,” the Coordinator of Education in the Archdiocese of Juba Fr. Gabriel Asida narrated while reading condolences message from his Holiness Pope Tawadros II the Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria and the Patriarch of the See of St. Mark.
Addressing the Catholic Church of Juba, Pope Tawadros II’s condolences message read, “Under his leadership (Archbishop Lukudu), the Catholic Church has seen remarkable revival and growth both in Juba and other territories of Sudan.”
On his part, the State President of the Republic of South Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit sent his eulogy and noted that the people of South Sudan will remember the pastoral care of the late Lukudu as a priest and a Prelate.
“In memory of his work, I call upon you to remember his many years of pastoral work within our communities and to pray that God in his infinite power gives us the comfort we need to withstand this moment of sadness,” reads in part the condolences message to the Catholic fraternity.
Meanwhile, South Sudan’s Vice President for Economic Cluster Dr. James Wani Igga noted in his condolences that “Archbishop Lukudu has been an icon of struggle and a milestone tower among those who fought fearlessly for the people of South Sudan to gain our current independence from the colonial Sudan Arabs oppressors’ regimes.”
He added that the late Archbishop participated actively towards the agreement of Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
“Appeal for immediate implementation of the R-ARCSS had been your topic of concern on several occasions,” Vice President for Economic Cluster addressed the late Archbishop Lukudu and continued, “You have been patient and vigilant to the merciful God and his mercy over our nation through your obedience…through you may Almighty God reward the people of South Sudan with love, unity and everlasting peace.”
And the archbishop-emeritus of Sudan’s Khartoum Archdiocese His Eminence Gabriel Cardinal Zubier Wako who was the main celebrant during the funeral Mass said that the pastoral care offered by the late MCCJ Archbishop was his sacrifice to the Church and for the people of God.
He urged the clergy, Religious and all the faithful during his homily to continue with the good acts Archbishop Lukudu performed throughout his active pastoral ministry adding that, “keep alive whatever you saw as a gift from God through the Archbishop.”
