Message of the Comboni’s superiors to the suffering in South Sudan

Message of the Comboni provincial superiors worldwide
to the suffering people in South Sudan

“MY PEACE I GIVE YOU”
(John 14: 27)

Dear sisters and brothers in South Sudan,
We greet you in the name of Jesus.

Saint Daniel Comboni had a great love for you, “the first love” of his youth.

We, the provincial superiors of the Comboni Missionaries worldwide, have the same love beating in our hearts. We suffer with you in these times of untold misery and death, and follow your situation with great preoccupation.

The blissful dream of Independence Day was shattered by the war that broke out in Juba and, like wildfire in a forest, slowly spread to the whole country.

The blood of thousands of dead civilians and soldiers cries out for peace; the wounded and the raped need healing, comfort and justice.

We earnestly pray that peace may return to South Sudan!

We pray for your political leaders: that they may look beyond personal or group interests, and engage in a deep national dialogue of pardon, reconciliation and redress!

We pray for your religious leaders: that they may guide you through paths of forgiveness to pastures of pardon and peace!

We beg Christians to turn to Jesus “for he is the peace between us, and has made the two into one entity and broken down the barrier which used to keep them apart, by destroying in his own person the hostility” (Ephesians 2:14).

Pope Francis made a strong appeal on behalf of South Sudan on February 22^nd 2017. He is concerned “with the painful news coming from martyred South Sudan” where “a fratricidal conflict” and severe food crisis “condemn to death by starvation millions of people, including many children.”

“Now, it is more necessary than ever that all commit not to stop at making statements, but also to provide concrete food aid and to allow it to reach suffering populations. May the Lord sustain these our brothers and all those working to help them” – the Pope said.

Taking the Pope’s lead, we call on the international community to continue assisting with food and practical security arrangements to alleviate your great suffering.

We ask God’s blessings upon each one of you through the intercession of Saint Josephine Bakhita and Saint Daniel Comboni.

The Provincial Superiors, Delegates and the Members of the General Administration of the Comboni Missionaries gathered in Rome.
February 24^th 2017