Pray for Success of Planned Ecumenical Visit to South Sudan: Bishop-elect

The Holy Father is to realize the South Sudan trip along with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, Jim Wallace.

In a May 7 joint-statement, Pope Francis, Archbishop Welby, and Rt. Rev. Wallace described the planned ecumenical trip to South Sudan as a “pilgrimage of peace.”

The three church leaders urged South Sudanese leaders to follow the “way of forgiveness and freedom.”

Jesus Christ “shows us that a new way is possible: a way of forgiveness and freedom, which enables us humbly to see God in each other, even in our enemies,” they said in their May 7 joint-statement.

They urged South Sudanese leaders to embrace the path of forgiveness and freedom “in order to discern new avenues amid the challenges and struggles at this time.”

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“We pray too that your people will experience the hope of Easter through your leadership. In anticipation of our Pilgrimage of Peace this coming summer, we look forward to visiting your great country,” Pope Francis, Archbishop Welby, and Rt. Rev. Wallace said in their joint-statement. 

If realized, Pope Francis will become the first Pope to visit South Sudan, which became the world’s newest nation after gaining independence from the Republic of the Sudan on 9 July 2011.

Earlier this month, the 85-year-old Pope started using a wheelchair in public due to a torn ligament in his right knee. The knee pain has seen him cancel some of his engagements. 

On Monday, May 9, the Tourism Minister of Lebanon announced that the Holy Father had postponed the June 12-13 trip to the Western Asian country “for health reasons”. 

In the May 11 interview with ACI Africa, the Bishop-elect whose Episcopal appointment was made public on February 11 said acknowledged with appreciation Pope Francis’ love for South Sudan. 

“The Holy Father loves this country and he has longed to see this country for a number of years,” Mons. Lodiong said, and added, “Once somebody has a good gesture of love toward us, why shouldn’t we prepare and welcome him to benefit from his grace.”

“We have to be in communion with the Holy Father because being in communion means we have to work and prepare for him,” the South Sudanese Bishop-elect further said.  

He appealed for active participation in the planned ecumenical visit saying, “It is our responsibility to sensitize the people and make them aware of the Pope’s visit because of his love for us, the people of South Sudan.”

“If a Bishop doesn't talk about the visit of the Holy Father to his people, then the Bishop is not in communion with the Holy Father,” The 51-year-old Bishop-elect whose Episcopal Ordination is scheduled for May 15 told ACI Africa during the May 11 interview.

Last week, the Social Communication Coordinator of the Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SCBC) said that Catholic Bishops in South Sudan have agreed to spearhead campaigns aimed at making the people of God aware of the planned ecumenical visit in their respective Dioceses. 

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“The Bishops have already agreed to intensify awareness campaigns in the Dioceses and have also formed committees to talk to people about the coming of the Holy Father and his efforts for peace in this country,” Fr. John Gbemboyo told ACI Africa May 5.

Patrick Juma Wani is a South Sudanese journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. Patrick holds a Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication from Makerere Institute for Social Development (MISD) in Uganda. He has over 7 years of extensive experience in leading the development and implementation of media, advocacy, communication and multimedia strategy and operations, with an excellent track record of editorial leadership, budget management, and stakeholder outreach. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.