SOUTH SUDAN: “We Take Pope Francis’ Encounter With The Jesuits to Heart,” Says Jesuit Provincial
Fr. Kizito Kiyimba, Eastern Africa Provincial
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
The Eastern Africa Provincial for the Order of the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits, has expressed joy after a private meeting with Pope Francis in Juba, South Sudan, a gesture which he says members of the Society have taken to “heart.”
“We as Jesuits who are shepherds among these people of South Sudan and also Jesuits as Pope Francis is, we feel a special kind of encouragement and we take this encounter with him to heart knowing that he is one of us,” Fr. Kizito Kiyimba shared with AMECEA Online just at the conclusion of the Holy Mass held at the grounds of Dr. John Garang Mausoleum, Sunday, February 5.
“Therefore, all words the Pope said during our encounter with him, we take them seriously; he is our brother Jesuit speaking to us,” the Eastern Africa Provincial narrated and disclosed further that the private get-together was more of encouragement and prayer.
According to Fr. Kiyimba, the visit of the Jesuit Pope to Eastern Africa province of the Society is of great importance as his aim was “to console us as he consoles the people of South Sudan, to pray with us and to re-direct the focus of the world on the situation of South Sudan especially on lack of peace and also to encourage us his brothers.”
He added, “I feel very encouraged by the Holy Father, edified both by the witness and strong will of the people, to fight on and continue.”
The Provincial who supervises the Jesuit mission in six countries of Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia – acknowledged that even though the country of South Sudan has its own challenges, the Jesuits have no intention of leaving but to serve and “stay.”
“South Sudan is very close to the heart of Eastern Africa province of the Jesuits. We believe in it and in a way we are defined by South Sudan. The challenges that south Sudan goes through are challenges of Eastern African province hence it is very close to our heart,” Fr. Kiyimba said and continued, “Amidst what we face, we are not going anywhere, we are here to stay. If anything more men should be coming to South Sudan.”
He recalled the difficulties the Society has passed through over the years as they serve in south Sudan saying, “We have had great losses including the loss of life and loss property. One of us Fr. Victor Luke Odhiambo was killed in 2018 in Rumbek. Before then we had lost a school in Wau Diocese because of war. Besides, we have lost a house here in town (Juba).”
“In all these, we are not leaving South Sudan, we are here to stay. There is that Spirit of togetherness and of strong will among the Jesuits to stay and work,” the Provincial Superior said underscoring that he feels that spirit of unity whenever he pays visit to the Jesuits serving in the country.
Fr. Kiyimba emphasized during the Sunday interview, that the Holy Father in the private meeting on Saturday, February 4, reminded members of the Jesuits working in South Sudan their mission of serving in neglected areas where no one else may want to go.
The provincial highlighted four universal apostolic preferences for the Jesuits which he said South Sudan seem to be the right arena to implement those apostolates.
“We have four apostolic preferences which are captured quite well here in South Sudan, and that is why we are not going anywhere but staying to serve,” Fr. Kiyimba stressed and highlighted the four saying, “We lead people to God through Spiritual exercises, we accompany those who are marginalized through offering refugee services, we accompany the youths in our schools and we care for the environment.”
He disclosed that the private meeting that was conducted when participants sat in a circle, “was very intimate, we introduced ourselves, asked the Holy Father questions which he answered.”
Actually, he continued, “The meeting was so personal and at some point we forgot that the Pope was the head of the entire Church and related to him as a brother Jesuit.”
Asked why the Pope choose to meet the Jesuits privately, Fr. Kiyimba said, “The Pope has established something like a habit of meeting with Jesuits in every meeting he goes and hence it was not unique just to us here in South Sudan.”
Actually he narrate, “This Pope is very special and has done very peculiar things to him. From the airport when he landed in Juba, he did not use the big beast but one of the small cars.
The Religious priest disclosed that having time alone with fellow Jesuits would be an opportunity for the Holy Father to talk the “Jesuit Lingo” and “in a way catch up with where the Society of Jesus is. I think it is a two way traffic: he encourages us and also draws encouragement from us.”
The Eastern Africa Provincial concludes by highlighting two gestures which in his observation are very symbolic towards Pope’s ecumenical visit to South Sudan.
“I take two gestures as far as Pope’s visit to South Sudan is concerned which I think are particularly meaningful to me,” Fr. Kiyimba said and disclosed, “The Faith of the South Sudanese and also the symbolism of this visit.”
“There was a time when the Holy Father kissed the feet of the government officials of South Sudan during their visit in Rome and this time to see him at his old age on a wheel chair travelling from the comfort of his home to come and preach peace and urge people to embrace peace and reconciliation. These are symbolic and I go away very much touched with these gestures,” he said.
