Catholic bishop says ‘South Sudan’s liberators are dead’
The Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Juba yesterday said that the ‘liberators’ of South Sudan are all dead and those who remain are destroying the country.
Addressing a crowd in the capital Juba, Bishop Santo Loku Pio stated, “The people who liberated this country are all dead, and they are down in their graves listening for those who are now alive destroying this country.”
He added, “If am talking like that people are saying that am a politician – but no, this is the reality.”
The bishop was speaking at the funeral prayers for the son of the Bari paramount chief Denis Ladu Darmolo in Juba. The event was attended by several ministers from Central Equatoria State representing Governor Clement Wani Konga.
Santo’s remarks yesterday echo statements he made in late August shortly after the closure of the Catholic Church’s radio station in the capital Juba. At that time he was quoted as saying that the politicians governing the country were “dry bones,” calling on the authorities “to embrace love for God and one another to revitalize their diminishing spiritual flesh.”
In early July also he delivered a homily slamming the country’s political leaders for “continuous preaching to violence and war,” claiming that the leaders did not want peace and ‘enjoy’ when people suffer.
Yesterday the bishop also spoke of killings and looting at night in Juba City saying it was a ‘curse’ that will hinder the country from moving forward towards peace.
“I grew up in Juba, I studied here in Juba and I have become a bishop in Juba, but I have never seen such behavior as we had today, even when we are together with the Arabs during the war. Today people are being beaten, killed and looted in their houses,” Santo said.
Addressing the Equatorian community members present at the gathering he called upon Equatorians to embrace one another in order to overcome all the challenges facing them.
“Equatorians, you should not be afraid,” he said.
He urged them to be peacemakers and also to show to those who like violence that they have only peace in their hearts.
File photo: Priests are ordained at the Archdiocese of Juba in 2013 (Gurtong)
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Timeline: Violence against churches in South Sudan (29 Aug.)