Catholic Church in South Sudan Set to Receive Newly Created Cardinal

 “We are inviting the public, all our Catholics, friends of the Catholic Church, the Christian Community, and the people of Juba to turn up in big numbers to celebrate this gift given to us by Pope Francis on the very day of our independence, July 9,” the Church leader said.

Bishop Loku further indicated that from the airport, “there will be a procession and our people are set to line up from the airport right to the Cathedral.”

Credit: ACI Africa

“When we arrive at the Cathedral, the Cardinal will just greet the people. After the greetings, he will give his blessings and people will disperse.”

He said there will be a thanksgiving Mass on November 4 at St. Theresa’s Cathedral of Juba Archdiocese to officially welcome the Cardinal.

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Asked about the significance of the creation of Cardinal in South Sudan since the country’s independence on 9 July 2011, he said, “It is very important to the country, it is like cementing our independence.”

“The position of Cardinal is very important because we shall have a seat in the Vatican around the Holy Father to make universal decisions about the Catholic faith,” he said.

Bishop Loku added that the elevation for South Sudan is “a gift and blessing”, and added, “For us means that we have matured and that now we can participate in the decisions of the Church. This is a full recognition by the Pope to the Christian faith in the Republic of South Sudan.”

Kerbino Kuel Deng is a South Sudanese journalist who is passionate about Church communication. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.