VATICAN - THE POPE SPEAKS TO BISHOPS OF SUDAN: “THE EXAMPLE OF STEADFAST COMMITMENT AND OF CHRISTIAN CHARITY GIVEN BY THESE TWO DEVOTED SERVANTS OF THE LORD CAN SHED MUCH LIGHT ON THE PRESENT REALITIES FACING THE CHURCH IN YOUR COUNTRY.”

Vatican City (Fides Service) – Addressing the Bishops of Sudan received for their ad limina visit on 15 December Pope John Paul II said “May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways’” (2 Th 3, 16) “at this decisive moment for your country, as two decades of violent conflict and bloodshed seem poised to give way to reconciliation and pacification”.
In his address the Pope mentioned the figures of two intrepid witnesses to the faith, “two holy individuals whose lives are intimately connected with your land: Saint Josephine Bakhita and Saint Daniel Comboni. Saint Josephine Bakhita knew the cruelty and brutality with which man can treat his fellow man. Abducted and sold into slavery as a young child, she was all too familiar with the suffering and victimisation that still afflicts countless men and women in her homeland and throughout Africa and the world. Her life inspires the firm resolve to work effectively to free people from oppression and violence, ensuring that their human dignity is respected in the full exercise of their rights.” The Holy Father said that the same resolve “must guide the Church in the Sudan today as the nation makes the transition from hostility and conflict to peace and concord. Saint Bakhita is a shining advocate of authentic emancipation. Her life clearly shows that tribalism and forms of discrimination based on ethnic origin, language and culture do not belong in a civilised society and have absolutely no place in the community of believers.”
The Holy Father did not fail to mention “ the hardships and pain that afflict those fleeing war and violence — especially women and children", and the Church’s commitment to assisting the refugees and contributing to improving social conditions in Sudan. He voiced satisfaction for the presence of Christians in the government: “A tentative opening on the part of civil leadership can already be seen in the presence of Christians in the current government, and in the reactivation of the Commission for Interreligious Dialogue. You should do all that you can to encourage this, even as you insist that religious pluralism, as guaranteed by the Sudanese Constitution, should be respected.” ... “ As you know so well, it belongs to the Church to speak out unambiguously on behalf of those who have no voice and to be a leaven of peace and solidarity, particularly where these ideals are most fragile and threatened. .”
Recalling the figure of Saint Daniele Comboni “who, as a missionary priest and Bishop, worked tirelessly to make Christ known and welcomed in Central Africa, including the Sudan”, the Pope emphasised Comboni’s concern “that Africans should have a key role in evangelising the continent”. He also promoted the inculturation of the faith striving to become familiar with the local customs and languages: “In a very real way, his life is an example for us today, clearly demonstrating that "the evangelisation of culture and the inculturation of the Gospel are an integral part of the new evangelisation and thus a specific concern of the episcopal office" » (Pastores gregis, n. 30).”
A priority in the mission of the bishop is concern for on going formation of the laity to help them “ to carry out their prophetic role in a society which does not always recognise or accept the truth and values of the Gospel. This is especially the case for your catechists: these dedicated servants of the Word require proper formation, both spiritual and intellectual, as well as moral and material support (cf. Ecclesia in Africa, No. 91). It would also prove helpful if a simple catechism in the language of the people were prepared and made available. Similarly, suitable texts in local languages could be prepared and distributed as a means of presenting Jesus to those who are unfamiliar with the Christian message and as a tool for interreligious dialogue. This could be especially helpful in those areas exempt from Sharia law, particularly in the Federal Capital of Khartoum. Here too I would like to encourage you to rekindle your efforts to establish a Catholic University in Khartoum. Such an institution would allow the priceless contribution that the Church makes in elementary and secondary education to be brought to bear also in the area of higher education. A Catholic University would also be of great assistance in helping you to fulfil your duty of seeing that properly trained teachers are available to impart Christian instruction in the public schools.”
Urging the Bishops “always to cherish your priests with a special love and to regard them as precious co-workers and friends ", the Holy Father underlined that priests are “ called to be detached from material things and to devote themselves to the service of others through the complete gift of self in celibacy". The Pope asked the Bishops to be in constant contact with their faithful, to see to their human and spiritual needs, making sure that equity and transparency are the traits of all financial matters. Lastly Pope John Paul II said “A specific initiative that could help to spur progress in this area is the establishment of an agency for co-ordinating the various programmes aimed at lending assistance and humanitarian aid throughout the various regions of the country…: “ the agency would be open to representatives of other Christian denominations and other religions, including Islam, thus fostering a climate of mutual trust through joint cooperation in the areas of educational and humanitarian assistance.” (S.L.) (Fides Service 16/12/2003 – lines 64; words 875)