Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Tombura-Yambio (Agenzia Fides) - "May the sacred land of Sudan not be soaked again in brotherly blood. Anger should never guide a people, but work for peace and reconciliation. I urge the people of God to seek the way of conversion and to accept dialogue in the spirit of truth and honesty", says Msgr. Barani Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala, bishop of the diocese of Tombura-Yambio and President of the Interreligious Council for the Peace Initiative in the Western Equatorial State, South Sudan, in his message of solidarity sent to Fides for the latest tragic events hitting the Sudanese population (see Fides, 25/10/2021).
"I am writing this letter to assure all of you that you are in our prayers. We are by your side, we pray and cry with you, hoping for a peaceful resolution of this latest tragedy", he said, addressing the bishops, priests, religious, brothers and sisters about the armed clashes with civilians that broke out in Khartoum and the coup that blocked the country. "Sudanese are true and faithful believers, Muslims or Christians alike. We must not forget that prayer is an effective weapon for forgiveness and reconciliation. In a conflict like this, believers must turn to God, using the spiritual resources at their disposal! All roads in this way lead to the Peace which is God himself. The Holy Book of the Koran (2: 190) forbids aggressive warfare: '... God does not love aggressors'. We too as Christians must always return to the sources of our faith to remember the presence of God, even when we suffer assaults on the sanctity of life. The process of dialogue can only be successful if we all allow God to enter our lives and touch our hearts to be able to ensure the changes that the country truly needs".
"In the not so distant past, many lives have already been lost due to violence similar to the current one. I urge everyone to pray and fast for reconciliation as the nation suffers due to the coup. This is the time for prayer, fasting and conversion. We add our voices to the many who have asked the military to refrain from using violence to the detriment of innocent people. Forced uprooting is exacerbating an already precarious humanitarian situation following the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving many people in urgent need of basic necessities.
"Everyone in the diocese of Tombura-Yambio, share your pain. The members of the Interreligious Council for the Peace Initiative in the Western Equatorial State will not cease to devote themselves to making known God's desire that all in Sudan share a life characterized by justice and peace. South Sudan loves you all!", concludes Msgr. Hiiboro. (EHK/AP) (Agenzia Fides, 29/10/2021)
