“Pope Francis’ Visit is a Great Blessing for us Catholics and Entire South Sudan”, Says Catholic Bishop
“I am convinced that the visit of Pope Francis is a great blessing for us Catholics and for entire South Sudan. Taking into consideration the dramatic national and international situation, the current visit bears the hope for peace and reconciliation on a global scale”.
“Pope Francis’ Visit is a Great Blessing for us Catholics and Entire South Sudan”, Says Catholic Bishop
By Sr. Henriette Anne (FSSA)
The Apostolic journey of Pope Francis to South Sudan is a blessing for us Catholics and the entire of South Sudan said the Catholic Bishop in the country describing that the visit bears the hope for peace and reconciliation.
“I am convinced that the visit of Pope Francis is a great blessing for us Catholics and for entire South Sudan. Taking into consideration the dramatic national and international situation, the current visit bears the hope for peace and reconciliation on a global scale”.
In a statement shared with RURUGENE on 29th January, Bishop Eduardo the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura – Yambio (CDTY) reflects on the 3-5 February pastoral visit that Pope Francis is to undertake alongside the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, Iain Greenshields.
“As the Pope is the head of the Catholic Church, he is keen to plant hope and peace everywhere, and that by itself will bring good to the country.
“Pope Francis is someone who watches over his flock and his love for them. He has compassion for his wounded people. This love made the Pope make the initiative to come much closer to South Sudanese. Despite his age and his health condition, he wants to come to check on his people” Bishop Eduardo says.
The local ordinary of CDTY goes on to explain “I wish the Pope would talk about political instability, communal violence, rapid and faithful implementation of the revitalized Peace Agreement, discrimination when he meets with South Sudanese leaders. It's something important for us. But I believe that South Sudanese leaders will tell the Pope that things are fine for the Christians here and they are cared for”.
He adds the Popes come here to tell us, “I am with you and I am in solidarity with you. I love you despite the visible and invisible challenges and everything else."
The prelate further wished that this visit may bring good results not only to Christians but to others too since Pope is a representative of Christians who spreads the message of peace not only to Christians but also to all religions and for the whole world.
The Catholic Bishop finally noted that “hopefully, without doubt, Pope Francis will instill the thought of let’s do the right thing, let us wash our feet among ourselves if we are going to invest in PEACE, let it benefit the people of South Sudan not just a handful of elite people, but all of us”.
He says in his January 29th statement, we are just happy and thankful to Pope Francis, Archbishop Justin Welby, and the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church for making my country a hotspot for PEACE! You are in my prayers and those of my diocese; the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio!
Welcome, Pope Francis – the Messenger of PEACE!
