By Paschal Norbert
JUBA, MARCH 11, 2025 (CISA) – As South Sudan teeters on the brink of another full-blown war, the country’s first-ever resident Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Séamus Patrick Horgan, has urged Christians to reject violence and embrace the spiritual weapons of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving during the Lenten season. His message, delivered on Sunday, March 9, at Saint Theresa Cathedral in Juba, comes at a critical time when political tensions and armed confrontations threaten to unravel the fragile peace agreement.
Archbishop Horgan lamented the resurgence of violence, calling it a grave tragedy, especially at the beginning of Lent, a period meant for reflection and spiritual renewal.
“This country is facing another season of bloodshed, and it is a tragedy that Lent should begin in this way,” he said in his homily.
He implored the people of South Sudan to turn away from violence, emphasizing that Lent is a time for personal and national transformation.
“We must start by converting from the violence that can destroy us. Christians should not be involved in this sort of combat,” he stressed, adding “The season of Lent calls us urgently to that conversion this year. Pope Francis continues to follow the events in South Sudan and prays for this country. We can now return those prayers, praying for his recovery, praying for his healing.”
The archbishop’s call for peace comes amid escalating political strife between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar. The two leaders, once comrades in the fight for independence, have been locked in a bitter power struggle that first ignited a civil war in 2013. Despite a 2018 peace agreement that brought a temporary halt to hostilities, tensions have flared again in recent weeks. On Tuesday, government forces reportedly surrounded Machar’s home in Juba, prompting fears of another outbreak of violence.
President Kiir has responded to the growing discord with a wave of high-level arrests and dismissals of political and military officials. Analysts warn that the deteriorating relationship between Kiir and Machar could collapse the already fragile peace process. The recent clashes in Upper Nile State, allegedly sparked by plans for forced disarmament of local groups, further underscore the deep-seated instability in the country.
Despite its vast oil wealth, South Sudan remains one of the poorest nations in Africa, with nearly 11 million people grappling with severe humanitarian crises driven by conflict, poverty, and displacement.
Archbishop Horgan’s plea for peace was not just a call for political leaders but for every South Sudanese citizen.
“It is time to turn the page,” he urged, stressing “It is time for a commitment to an urgent and much-needed transformation. The process of peace and reconciliation needs a new start.”
He also encouraged South Sudanese Christians to offer Pope Francis the gift of peace as he continues to pray for the country.
“We can give him the gift of seeing South Sudan at peace. We can give him the consolation of a country that turns the page away from violence and political weapons. We can give him the comfort of seeing this country, for which he has such affection and concern, embracing a definitive and enduring peace through reconciliation,” he appealed.
