SOUTH SUDAN: Apostolic Nuncio to South Sudan Reminds Politicians of Pope’s Message of Peace Amidst Escalating Violence
Apostolic Nuncio To South Sudan at St. Kizto Parish Juba.
Ginaba Lino
The first-ever resident Apostolic Nuncio to South Sudan who was appointed in May 2024 has called on political leaders to remember Pope’s message of peace during his visit to South Sudan amidst tensions between the signatories to the Revitalized Peace Agreement in South Sudan, adding that if Pope Francis could speak to the people of South Sudan, he would repeat the words he spoke two years ago on his visit to the country.
Speaking during his homily on Sunday at Saint Theresa Cathedral in Juba, and Archbishop Séamus Patrick Horgan said even as Pope Francis battles ill-health, he has been kept informed of the current situation of South Sudan, the youngest country that gained independence from Sudan in July 2011.
“I wish to assure you that the Holy Father, even as he battles ill-health, has been kept informed of the situation here; and that it grieves him. I know if Pope Francis could speak to us this morning, he would repeat the words he spoke two years ago on his visit to this country,” Archbishop Horgan said during his Homily on Sunday, March 9.
“Now is the time to say: “No more of this” No more bloodshed, no more conflicts, no more violence and mutual recrimination, no more leaving your people athirst for peace. No more destruction: it is time to build! Leave the time of war behind and let a time of peace dawn,” the Nuncio whose episcopal Consecration was on Saturday, July 27, 2024 in Rome, said, addressing the congregation during the Eucharistic celebration on Sunday.
The Nuncio who has been assigned the Titular See of Árd Sratha emphasized the significance of the Season of Lent: “We have said that Lent is a time of conversion, and indeed we need to convert, to quote the Pope again from his speech on February 3rd, 2023.”
Archbishop Horgan continued: “Dear friends, it is time to turn the page: it is time for commitment to an urgent and much needed transformation. The process of peace and reconciliation needs a new start”.
He emphasized that the Pope continues to follow events in South Sudan, and continues to pray for the country, calling on the people of South Sudan to return those prayers, praying for his recovery, praying for his healing.
“So says the Pope to us again today. The season of Lent calls us urgently to that conversion this year. And, as the Pope continues to follow events in South Sudan, and continues to pray for this country, we can now return those prayers, praying for his recovery, praying for his healing.”
“But I think we can add something to those prayers for his health. We can also become a source of consolation for Pope Francis! We can give him the gift of seeing South Sudan at peace. We can give him the consolation of a country that turns the page away from violence,” he said.
Archbishop Horgan emphasized, “We can give Pope Francis the comfort of seeing this country, for which he has such “affection and concern”, embracing a definitive and enduring peace, by means of reconciliation.”
He called on Christians, and the people of South Sudan in the season of Lent to do Lent is a season of conversion and spiritual renewal, adding that they must start by converting from the violence that can destroy them.
“Ash Wednesday saw another kind of combat: our country was plunged once again into bloody fighting. It is a tragedy that the Season of Lent should start in this way! It is deplorable that lives have been needlessly lost, as we begin what should be a season of spiritual renewal. Christians should not be involved in this sort of combat. Lent is a season of conversion and spiritual renewal we must start by converting from the violence that can destroy us.”
The Apostolic Nuncio appealed to everyone who calls himself Christian renounce the arms of war and violence this Lent, and take up the spiritual weapons of prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
