“Neither understandable nor acceptable”: Catholic Bishop in South Sudan Condemns Violence after Over 29 Die in Clashes

Following the deadly clashes, Bishop Carlassare recounts that “the Parish Priest of Our Lady Help of Christians had to abandon the parish together with the Christians.”

“They are now in Agook, about 1,000 people. They have lost most of their properties and have nothing to eat even though the local population is helping them in emergency,” he says.

The Italian-born member of the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus (MCCJ) invites the people of God in his Episcopal See to “pray even more intensely for peace as we are all wounded by this act of violence and we feel the pain of our brothers and sisters in Abiemnhom.”

He directs Parishes in Bentiu Diocese to make “a special collection during this fifth Sunday of Lent to send help to our Christians displaced in Agook.”

“We want to show true solidarity to our brethren. Each Parish Priest is in charge to collect this heartfelt gift and send it to Fr. Bulus Reth in Agook,” Bishop Carlassare further directs.

South Sudan is experiencing renewed conflict between the South Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO) and the SSPDF, following the arrest of political leaders, including First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny.

Since the signing of the September 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) in Addis Ababa, peace in South Sudan has been fragile. Despite the agreement, tensions between SSPDF and SPLA-IO have reportedly persisted, fueled by political rivalries, politics of succession, ethnic divisions, and delays in the full implementation of the peace deal.

The situation worsened in early 2025, when renewed clashes erupted between the two factions, leading to widespread displacement and casualties.

The reported arrest of the first Vice President, Dr. Machar, which followed the arrest of other leaders in the opposition, escalated tensions in the world’s youngest nation, raising fears of a return to large-scale conflict.

In his April 5 statement, Bishop Carlassare invites those in authority in Unity and Parieng States, especially in Mayom and Abiemnhom Counties to “collaborate and restore dialogue to overcome this crisis together.”

“Violence can never be justified. It is never useful to blame others for any misdeed, but it is better to find out the root causes of a conflict. The responsibility of those in authority is actually to listen to their community and to make a bridge with the neighboring community to find understanding and common ground to solve the arising issues,” the Catholic Church leader says.

He continues, “We cannot allow some elements of our communities to rob us of the peace and security we need. At the same time, I invite those people who have selfish interests to stop inciting local communities to violence.”

In his April 5 statement, Bishop Carlassare, who started his Priestly Ministry in South Sudan’s Catholic Diocese of Malakal following his ordination in September 2004 goes on to advocate for a “comprehensive disarmament.”

“It is actually when we are weak that we are strong, because we become concerned for the well-being of our neighbors as much as we are for our own well-being,” he says.

“No violence is legitimate,” the Catholic Church leader, who had been ministering in Malakal Diocese since his arrival in South Sudan in 2005, before he was appointed Bishop for Rumbek Diocese in March 2021, says.

(Story continues below)

Making reference to the late Archbishop Emeritus of Olinda e Recife Archdiocese in Brazil, Archbishop Hélder Pessoa Câmara, Bishop Carlassare says, “The only  legitimate war is the one declared against poverty and ignorance.”

“Let us not waste time with conflicts for power that use poverty and ignorance as weapons. Let us disarm ourselves and face poverty and ignorance together so that they may end soon, and we can finally live in peace and prosper in the land we have inherited,” he adds.

Bishop Carlassare appeals for unity, saying, “Let us unite to the cry of Rachel and our mothers so that we may finally find the way to righteousness and reconciliation.”