AMECEA: AMECEA’s PIHD Evaluates Impact of Pope Francis’ Visit to South Sudan
Cardinal of South Sudan with Members of AMECEA at Bishops' Conference, Juba
Ginaba Lino
The Association of Members Episcopal Conference in Eastern Africa (AMECEA’s) Department for Promotion of Integral Human Development (PIHD) paid a Solidarity visit to evaluate the Impact of the Pope’s visit to South Sudan early this year in February.
The aim of the delegation from AMECEA to Sudan and the South Sudan Bishops’ Conference, was to follow up on the positive impact of the ecumenical visit and how the South Sudan Church is prepared for the upcoming General elections planned to be held by December 2024.
In a message by Archbishop George Tambala, of Lilongwe Diocese, Malawi they continue to pray for long lasting peace in South Sudan.
“We continue to pray for you, for long-lasting peace in this beautiful country, for the good of the entire people of God who continue to suffer in various situations, many of them women and children,” archbishop Tambala who is also the Chairperson of PIHD department at AMECEA said.
Archbishop Tambala appreciated the Church in South Sudan for the good work they are doing, citing that AMECEA Bishops are proud of them.
“We continue to appreciate the good work the Church in South Sudan is doing and AMECEA Bishops are proud of you, since the country plunged into violent conflicts in 2013, hardly three years after gaining independence in 2010, the Church continues to play its prophetic role by advocating for peace,” the Malawian Prelate said.
He added that AMECEA’s mission is to inspire and empower the family of God for credible witness by promoting unity, justice, and solidarity among members and her vision is a Holy Spirit-filled family of God committed to holistic evangelization and integral development work.
He thanked the government and the opposition for having signed the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan.
“This solidarity visit by the Bishops of AMECEA is to engage and encourage those involved in the peace agreement to fast-track implementation and be in solidarity with the people of South Sudan,” the Archbishop stated
Archbishop Tambala appreciated the progress made so far despite the low implementation of the peace agreement in South Sudan.
“While the implementation of the agreements remains relatively slow, we appreciate some progress has been made.”
to South Sudan.
The Archbishop of South Sudan Stephen Cardinal Ameyu Martin said the Church in South Sudan encourages such targeted advocacy for social and political stability in AMECEA Countries.
This advocacy is very important so as to address the material deprivation and poverty that afflicts many people in the Region, the new Cardinal stated.”
He adds that the Church in South Sudan recognizes that civil progress and economic development are essential for peace and construction of a new order.
“The Church in South Sudan recognizes that civil progress and economic development are essential for peace and construction of a new order whether it is in our region or elsewhere,” he said and continued, “Our Church also encourages cooperation between Church and State on matters of a great social concern.”
The Cardinal explained that such cooperation can lead to the formulation of public policies that address the social and economic problems faced by the people in the region and called on the AMECEA Region to continue advocating for the important solidarity and the implementation of peace.
There is a lot of pressure and tensions between political groups and many religious people like the Muslim community, we need to be close to them, the Cardinal stressed and narrated that, there is a bit of stability in South Sudan, after the ecumenical visit of the Holy Father.
He appealed to AMECEA to support the people of South Sudan through such solidarity visit that they have expressed.
Besides Archbishop Tambala, other AMECEA delegations who visited Sudan and South Sudan Bishops’ Catholic Conference in Juba include His Lordship John Baptist Odamo, of Gulu Uganda, and the Chairperson of Justice and Peace in Uganda Episcopal Conference, and Bishop Fransua Seyoum of Hosanna, Ethiopia and the chairman of Social Communications department of AMECEA.
