South Sudan: The Church, Government Leadership Ordained Servants of God- CES Governor
Our government shall continue to seek the help of God to give us wisdom in governance
The governor of Central Equatoria State, General Agustino Jadalla Wani Kamilo, calls upon church leaders in South Sudan to continue educating the faithful to hold firm to the holy teachings of the Church handed down by Jesus.
Speaking at the closing of the Eucharistic Congress in the Archdiocese of Juba on Sunday, 24 November 2024, Jadalla hopes this event will strengthen the relationship between the State and the Church in South Sudan.
“This Eucharistic Congress renews the role of the Church in fostering peace in society and good relations between Church leaders and the government leadership of South Sudan,” Jadalla.
“Both the Church and government leadership are ordained servants of God and therefore ought to mutually work together and collectively, on one interest, which is peace and unity for the people of South Sudan.”
The relationship between the State and the Church in South Sudan has fluctuated since the country gained independence on 9 July 2011.
On Sunday, 27 October 2013, Radio Bakhita, a Catholic Church-run radio station, reported that President Salva Kiir Mayardit resumed attending Mass at St. Theresa’s Cathedral in Kator after being absent for nine months. Kiir told congregants that he stopped attending Mass at the Cathedral because a senior priest had confronted him over national mistakes one Sunday in January. President Kiir stated the priest should have called and advised him on the matter rather than confronting him during Mass, as the reason might be personal.
On Sunday, 17 August 2014, President Kiir reportedly skipped Mass at St. Theresa’s Cathedral, Kator, where he regularly attended Sunday services, a day after South Sudan’s National Security forces shut down the Church’s Radio Bakhita FM – the ‘voice of the Church’. A news editor, Ochan David Nicholas, was arrested during the shutdown.
In 2022, on Christmas Day, President Kiir resumed attending Mass at St. Theresa’s Cathedral in Juba after a period of absence.
“I have been absent from the Church for some time, not because I don’t want to pray here, but because there were elements in the Cathedral who, whenever I come, speak in a way that discourages me from being here,” Kiir said.
Governor Jadalla appeals to leaders to prioritise the interests of the people during decision-making because this is “the urgent need for the quick restoration of peace and stability across the country.”
“Our government, under the leadership of President General Salva Kiir Mayardit, shall continue to seek the help of God to give us wisdom in governance so that we shepherd the people of God under our jurisdiction in accordance with His Sovereign Will and aspiration.”
The Holy See representative and Apostolic Nuncio for South Sudan, Mons. Séamus Patrick Horgan, assures the thousands of congregants gathered at the Juba International Stadium of “the Pope’s prayers and closeness” for the Church in Sudan and South Sudan, especially the Diocese of Khartoum and the Diocese of El Obeid.
“The Pope prays for you and with you in these days and stands in solidarity as he knows the difficulties through which you are living. He urges all of us to pray for the two dioceses and for peace in Sudan,” Mons. Séamus said.
The Sudan and South Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference launched a logo for the Eucharistic Congress and the Golden Jubilee on Friday, 1 September. The Bishops unanimously agreed to hold the Eucharistic Congress and the Golden Jubilee Hierarchy in the Catholic Diocese of Wau on 26 November 2023 under the theme: One Body, One Spirit in Christ.
The event brought together Catholic priests, nuns, religious men and women, government officials, and the entire Christian community in Juba, South Sudan, to dedicate Sudan and South Sudan to Christ.
