Church Leaders in Sudan and South Sudan Express Hope for Peace, Promise Blessings to International Community’s ‘plan’

CANAA || By Father Don Bosco Onyalla, Nairobi || 25 January 2016

Catholic Church leaders from Sudan and South Sudan are expressing hope for peace in their countries but are promising blessings to the international community particularly for South Sudan in case the peace deal does not hold.

Recalling the numerous ceasefires that have been violated soon after being signed, the Church leaders are concerned that the peace process can fail to hold.

“WE ALSO WANT lT TO BE CLEAR THAT IF THE PARITIES FAIL TO IMPLEMENT THIS AGREEMENT, THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS OF SUDAN AND SOUTH SUDAN WILL GIVE THEIR BLESSING TO ANY PLAN "8" OR "C'' THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MAY SEE APPROPRIATE TO TAKE IN ORDER TO SALVAGE THE SITUATION OF SOUTH SUDAN,” the Church leaders emphasized their message by the use of capital letters.

In a communique at the end of their ten-day Extraordinary Plenary Session in Rome released today, January 25, 2016, the Church leaders are calling “for a more rigorous implementation of the Peace Agreement” and “concerted efforts for dialogue and peace in the Sudan.”

They acknowledge with regrets the challenges the citizens of both countries are experiencing occasioned by insecurity and violent conflicts and challenge the political leadership to take immediate action.

“People are hurting beyond bearable proportions. This unacceptable situation cannot go on forever as if there is nobody in charge of these countries.”

They are expressing their concern about the implementation of the August 2015 Peace Agreement to end the civil conflict in South Sudan saying, “The way the parties to the agreement are dragging their feet in the process of implementation gives an impression that they signed the peace out of pressure and not because they have seen the suffering of their people.”

They are assuring the Sudanese and South Sudanese of Pope Francis’ “spiritual” closeness to them and add, “We want you to know that the whole Catholic Church feels and lives our current situation and is doing all she can to alleviate it.”

Pegging their hope in this New Year 2016, which Pope Francis has declared the Jubilee Year of Mercy (December 8, 2015 – November 20, 2016), the Church leaders are encouraging citizens in the two neighboring countries to work hard toward making 2016 “a year of forgiveness, reconciliation and peace in South Sudan and the whole of Sudan.”

They left their countries for the Vatican City to have a “moment of moment of prayer, reflection and spiritual renewal in the tombs of the Apostles; Sts. Peter and Paul” and to, as they put it, discuss “the precarious pastoral and political situation of our two countries with our superiors in Rome.”

Below is the full statement from the Catholic Church leaders of Sudan and South Sudan given in Rome today, Monday, January 25, 2016.

LIFT UP YOUR HEARTS: MESSAGE OF HOPE AND ENCOURAGEMENT

(From the Catholic Bishops of Sudan and South Sudan)

TO OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS

Preamble:

We, the Catholic Bishops and Ordinaries of Sudan and South Sudan, meeting for an Extraordinary Plenary Session in Rome, from 12^th – 22^nd January 2016, together with the Apostolic Nuncio to South Sudan, Archbishop Charles Daniel Balvo and the Apostolic Nuncio to Sudan, Archbishop Hubertus Matheus Maria van Megen send you the people of Sudan and South Sudan our message of peace, hope and encouragement as we begin this New year 2016.

We have come out of Sudan and South Sudan to have this moment of prayer, reflection and spiritual renewal in the tombs of the Apostles; Sts. Peter and Paul. After discussing the precarious pastoral and political situation of our two countries with our superiors in Rome; we unconditionally recommit ourselves to your service. In our meeting with the Holy Father, Pope Francis, who keeps both of countries at heart, we have been reconfirmed spiritually, as your pastors, in the ministry of God's Love and Mercy. We, therefore, extend to each one of you the affection of the Holy Father and assure you of his spiritual closeness to the people of both countries. We want you to know that the whole Catholic Church feels and lives our current situation and is doing all she can to alleviate it.

We cannot overstress that the people of South Sudan and Sudan (especially Nuba Mountains, Darfur and Blue Nile) have already suffered so much and for a long time. In addition to the miseries and death caused by insecurity and wars in these areas, the economic situation in both of our countries is getting dire day by day. People are hurting beyond bearable proportions. This unacceptable situation cannot go on forever as if there is nobody in charge of these countries.

We welcome with great joy the August 2015 peace agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan - (ARCISS). It is ushering in signs of hope that a new beginning is still possible. As we begin this year 2016, which Pope Francis has providentially declared as a special "Jubilee Year of Mercy", we would like to urge you to lift up your hearts and keep your heads high because your liberation is near at hand (Lk.21:28). We encourage you to rise up from your doubts, fears and hopelessness and embrace this peace with hope. Let us continue to pray and work hard that this year 2016 truly becomes a year of forgiveness, reconciliation and peace in South Sudan and the whole of Sudan.

Although we are still optimistic that the August peace agreement will be timely implemented, we are concerned that some people, both in the government and the opposition, are working hard to spoil the implementation of the agreement. The way the parties to the agreement are dragging their feet in the process of implementation gives an impression that they signed the peace out of pressure and not because they have seen the suffering of their people. While we fully understand that there are several contentious issues still to be addressed, we are convinced that these seemingly "genuine grudges" can all be handled within the framework of dialogue and peaceful deliberations. There is no one, in his right mind, who can continue to sustain that war can be the answer to any grievances. We have tried war many times before and it did not solve anything.

We cannot laud enough the efforts of all those who have helped the warring parties in South Sudan to come to an agreement; the regional mediators; IGAD-Plus, TROIKA, AU, UN and other members of the international community. You are doing a noble task. We want you to know that the Catholic Bishops and the whole Church is behind you. We are praying for God's hand to continue guiding you.

We are now calling for a more rigorous implementation of the Peace Agreement. We pray and hope that the parties to the agreement (the government of South Sudan and the opposition) will swiftly cooperate with JMEC's Chairman, Festus Mogae and his team, to save the lives of innocent citizens and for the good of the country. We earnestly urge the parties and all the political leaders to embrace this God given opportunity, to listen to voice of reason and not squander this chance. We still trust that, this time, you will put the interests of our beloved nation ahead of personal interests. So, we are looking forward to the formation of the government of National Unity in Juba in the next few days.

We do not, nevertheless, wish to be delusional in this question of peace. We still remember how several ceasefire agreements have been violated no sooner than they have been signed. That is why we are still concerned that, should this peace process not hold this time, the world's newest country, which is already described as "failed state", could as well collapse in its entirety. WE ALSO WANT lT TO BE CLEAR THAT IF THE PARITIES FAIL TO IMPLEMENT THIS AGREEMENT, THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS OF SUDAN AND SOUTH SUDAN WILL GIVE THEIR BLESSING TO ANY PLAN "8" OR "C'' THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MAY SEE APPROPRIATE TO TAKE IN ORDER TO SALVAGE THE SITUATION OF SOUTH SUDAN.

We are also calling for more concerted efforts for dialogue and peace in the Sudan. We are encouraged by the repeated attempts and efforts being exerted by the warring parties in Sudan to bring lasting Peace to the regions of Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan/Nuba Mountains. But our joy has been tempered by the resumption of tragic bombardments of innocent people in these areas this month. Sudanese should now be the first to realize that war and killing do not solve problems.

Despite the several rounds of failed talks, we still urge the Government of Sudan not to tire in its efforts to sit and negotiate a just and peaceful settlement to the conflict. We also appeal to both belligerent parties to sit at the negotiating table in order to reach a just and peaceful solution to the situation. We support all the members of regional and the international community who are seeking a just and peaceful solution for Sudan. lt is our intense desire to see the two Sudans living side by side in peace and security. We want to see our people happy as they develop themselves and their countries.

We want all the people of Sudan, South Sudan, IGAD and the lnternational Community to know that our pastoral plan, in this year of mercy (working together with the other Christian Churches (SSCC & SCC), is to spearhead the work of forgiveness and reconciliation. This is a crucial part of nation-building. Our dioceses have already begun the programs of healing and reconciliation in the families, parishes and communities. We are your partners in carrying out this noble mission of national healing and reconciliation in all levels of our society.

We would like, at this juncture, to express our gratitude to our priests, religious brothers and sisters, catechists and lay faithful who are engaged in the work of building peace at the grassroots. You are making often unnoticeable sacrifices by living and working in the most difficult of circumstances, yet it is your work guided by Lord Jesus himself that will bring true healing, peace and reconciliation in our communities. May God the Father of Mercy bless the work of your hands.

ln conclusion, we the Catholic Bishops of South Sudan and Sudan pray, through the intercession of Saints Josephine Bakhita and Daniel Comboni, that the God of Mercy and Compassion, to whom we now put all our hope,:may forgive, heal and bless you all.

Given in Rome, 25^th January 2016, on the Solemnity of the Conversion of St. Paul and the Octave day of the week of prayer for Peace and Christian Unity.

Signed by Catholic Church leaders of Sudan and South Sudan.