Catholic bishops express concerns in pastoral letter

Catholic bishops express concerns in pastoral letter
February 28, 2019 Susan Oxley
Sudan Tribune photo March 2018

“We the Catholic bishops of South Sudan, meeting in Juba from 26th to 28th February 2019, have reflected on the current situation in our country to prayerfully discern the way forward… We address our message to our own Christians, to all South Sudanese, to our neighbours and friends in the international community, and to all people of good will. We also humbly share this message with our Holy Father Pope Francis as we know of and are grateful for his deep personal interest and concern for South Sudan…

“While there is a great deal of talk about peace, actions are not matching words, and we fear that our leaders on all sides have other hidden agendas… The Church stands with the poor and oppressed, the ordinary people… We fear that this peace agreement is fatally flawed in itself and cannot bring true peace; we fear also that the current leadership does not have the will to implement peace…

“Politics alone will not resolve the conflicts in South Sudan… What is needed is conversion, a change of heart, amongst individuals and communities. This message is at the core of the Church’s ministry.”

Read full text of pastoral letter (PDF)

Photo: Pope Francis with Catholic bishops from South Sudan in March 2018 at the Vatican. Reprinted from the Sudan Tribune

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