---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: John Ashworth <[email protected]>
Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2017 at 08:33
Subject: [sudans-john-ashworth] Sudan Catholic Bishops' Conference
Statement on Pope's visit
To: Group <[email protected]>
THE POSTPONEMENT OF THE VISITATION OF POPE FRANCIS TO SOUTH SUDAN,
PRESS STATEMENT
BY THE SUDAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS CONFERENCE FOR SUDAN AND SOUTH SUDAN (SCBC)
Yambio,
June, 06th 2017
Your Eminence,
Your Grace,
Your Lordship,
Very Rev. Monsignors, Fathers, Religious Brothers & Sisters, the
faithful and entire people of South Sudan,
“May they all be one just like I and the Father are one John: 17:21”
South Sudan is the newest country in the whole world, having attained
its independence in the last five years. The country has been having
on and off conflicts i.e. tribal/regional conflict, political
instability and differences. All these challenges have contributed to
the loss of many lives, displacement of people, under development,
loss of property, insecurity, etc. From 2013 to date, South Sudan has
been very unstable. Nearly everybody is traumatised.
Pope Francis for a very long time now has been so much concerned about
South Sudan and its people. In several occasions in his traditional
Prayers of Angelus and Weekly Audiences he has prayed and called on
the world to come to the aid of South Sudan.
The Holy Father, has been a leading voice for peace and for dialogue
between people of different faiths and nations. He’s also, in both
his words and his deeds, I think has called all of us to address the
challenges of poverty and inequality in our own country and around the
world, and again, has brought to our church and world now, I think a
moral clarity to how he addresses that issue and calls on all of us to
care for the least among us.
We, the Sudan Catholic Bishops Conference (SCBC) for Sudan and South
Sudan, the entire nation of South Sudan and the whole world were
eagerly awaiting for the historic event of the visitation of his
Holiness Pope Francis, the first time ever the Vicar of Christ, the
Successor of St. Peter, to Grace the new nation of South Sudan.
Holy Father chose to visit South Sudan and his intention was out of
personal inspired decision and interest, only God leads! Therefore,
his cancellation to visit the country is first and foremost to be
taken in respect and prayer! The reasons could be beyond superficial
speculations and also could be due to the above mentioned challenges
the country is undergoing.
Pope Francis is very particularly about the welfare of the suffering
people in the world, and so is he for South Sudan. So he calls on all
of us, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, to put the “least of these” at
the centre of our concerns. He reminds us that in the eyes of God our
measure as individuals, and our measure as a society, is not
determined by power or wealth or station or celebrity, but by how well
we attend to Scripture’s call to lift up the poor and the
marginalized, to stand up for justice and against inequality, and to
ensure that every human being is able to live in dignity –- because we
are all made in the image of God.
It means showing compassion and love for the marginalized and the
outcast, to those who have suffered, and those who have caused
suffering and seek redemption. Pope Francis continues to remind us of
the costs of war, particularly on the powerless and defenseless, and
urge us toward the imperative of peace.
Surely over and above the hope and feelings of every citizen was
joyful and remain that, South Sudan being a new country, the visit of
the Holy Father could have familiarize the nation to the whole world,
uplift the faith as their chief pastor, raise the expectation,
unifying the people and consequently restoring peace to the war torn
country of South Sudan.
The pastoral historic visit of the Holy Father could have uplifted the
faith of the Christians and other believers in South Sudan as their
chief Pastor comes in to share in their ordeal – praying for them and
with them. Surely, the Holy Father’s visit would raise the
expectations of South Sudan that if the Pope has come then there is
going to be peace. His presence would be aimed at consoling the
grieving brothers and sisters and heal their broken hearted/wounds. He
could then strengthen the faiths of his brother bishops and raise
hopes of the faithful who are desperately discerning for peace.
The Government beginning from the head of State (the President), the
Bishops, the church leaders and the entire nation had expressed a
heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the Holy Father for his choice
to visit South Sudan. But due to the uncontrolled ongoing insecurity
and the many challenges mentioned above the visit has sadly been
altered. All we need to do now is embark on a very serious spiritual
self-discernment, Peace Building and Material consolidation in order
to create conducive atmosphere for the possibility of the visitation
of the Holy Father in due course.
It is therefore, our great desire, hope and expectation as the Sudan
Catholic Bishops Conference for the Sudan and South Sudan that, the
visit of the Holy Father hasn’t been put off completely but the
pastoral visit will be reconsidered and that South Sudan as a new
nation will be graced by His Holiness - Pope Francis.
We as the SCBC urge all our faithful and entire people within the
country to strive and promote peace in his or her own capacity! Be
that agent of change needed in South Sudan! Pray a lot more in sincere
repentance of heart with the aim of consolidating peace in the
country. It is only such activities which can bring the Holy Father to
South Sudan in no distant period.
May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ continue to inspire, motivate
and enlighten us to promote his Kingdom in our new nation South Sudan.
Let us continue to pray for the Holy Father in our daily prayers!
God bless you all and God bless South Sudan.
Fraternally,
+ Barani Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala
Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio &
President of Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SCBC)
Barani Eduardo Hiiboro KUSSALA
Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio
"We have come from Far, We are still Far and we are going very Far"
Tel. +211916689897 or +211955966955-
END
______________________
John Ashworth
[email protected]
+254 725 926 297 (Kenya mobile)
+211 919 695 362 (South Sudan mobile)
+44 787 976 8030 (UK mobile)
+88 216 4334 0735 (Thuraya satphone)
Skype: jashworth1
PO Box 52002 - 00200, Nairobi, Kenya
This is a personal e-mail address and the contents do not necessarily
reflect the views of any organisation
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