SOUTH SUDAN: “Be a Salt to the Society” Apostolic Nuncio to South Sudanese

Ginaba Lino

The Catholic Church in South Sudan has celebrated the first anniversary of the Ecumenical Pilgrimage for peace to South Sudan made last year by Pope Francis and the world leaders for the Church of England and the Presbyterian Church of Scotland with a call for South Sudanese to be the Salt of the Society.

The Ecumenical Pilgrimage for peace to South Sudan by the three church leaders was organized and realized under the theme, “I pray that all may be one”, taken from John 17.

Archbishop Hubertus van Megen challenged the people of God in South Sudan to be salt of the earth living honest lives founded on Gospel values.

“We are all in that sense, salt of the earth as Jesus said today in the Gospel as we have been listen to it. To be salt to the earth, that not always easy by the way, you might recall that the old liturgy of baptism, the priest could put a bit of salt on the tongue of the baby and you could see how the baby spit it out from the month. So to say today now you need to be the salt of the earth.”

Bert Van Megan explains that, “Salt of the earth is about giving taste to life even more and deeper, to give sense to life and to be that sense for life.

“Salt of the earth is about giving taste to life even more and deeper, to give sense to life and to be that sense for life, to live for others, not so much for yourself but for others; that others find taste in you, that you are that salt of the earth.”

The Apostolic Nuncio to South Sudan and Kenya emphasized on the fruits of Pope’s visit to South Sudan with the installation of Cardinal Stephen Ameyu.

The Holy Father, after his visit to Juba, gave us the gift of a Cardinal, His Eminence Stephen Ameyu, as a recognition of the importance of the Church of South Sudan, “says Archbishop van Megen.”

The Apostolic Nuncio added that the elevation of Archbishop Ameyu to Cardinal was a recognition of the Church of South Sudan.

“The elevation of Archbishop Ameyu to Cardinal, was “a recognition not only by the way of the Church as Bishops or as Priests or as Religious, but as we are all here today, people of God, because we are all part of that Church and we all have a responsibility and a commitment to that church.”

One year since the first-ever Papal visit to South Sudan, the representative of the Holy Father in the East-Central African nation has highlighted the benefits of the 3-5 February 2023 Ecumenical Visit, which Pope Francis undertook alongside the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, Iain Greenshields.

On behave of the government, the Minister of Interior Angelina Teny stated that, the Ecumenical visit of His Holiness Pope Francis have yelled its fruit to the people of South Sudan.

Minister Angelina, attributed her statement to the facts that, out of many countries in Africa, Pope Francis chose to visit South Sudan a country whose image has been stained by prolong conflicts.

Angelina said, the Holy Father’s visit to South Sudan demonstrated the commitment and love of Pope Francis to the people of South Sudan

The Minister acknowledge and appreciated the effort employed by Holy See through St Ejidio community to bring everlasting peace to the people of South Sudan.

“Our Pope, Holiness continue to keep this country at heart. We recognize his effort also through Saint Ejidio to support the peace in our country, to encourage those who are still outside to come and join peace, and we are very grateful for that.”

The Minister of interior assures the congregation and the Vatican delegates of government’s effort to bring an everlasting peace in the Country.

She further urged and encouraged the congregation not give up in praying for everlasting peace to reign in all parts of South Sudan

Over thousands of believers turned up to celebrate the first anniversary of Pope’s Visit to South Sudan.