The new Papal first-ever representative to South Sudan, Archbishop Séamus Patrick Horgan, arrived in Juba on Thursday.
Archbishop Horgan, who was serving as First Counsellor at the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, D.C., arrived in the country on Thursday at 10 a.m. at Juba Airport.
He replaces Archbishop Hubertus Mathews Maria van Megen, who served since March 2019.
South Sudan has been served by the Kenya-based Apostolic Nuncio, who collaborates with a Charge d’Affaires based at the country’s Apostolic Nunciature in Juba.
Papal representative Horgan was received at Juba International Airport by Catholic clergy, government officials, and the faithful.
Speaking to the media after the Papal Nuncio’s arrival in Juba, Santo Laku Pio, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Juba, said Archbishop Horgan’s appointment will boost bilateral relations with the Holy See.
“We are happy to welcome Archbishop Séamus, the first Apostolic Nuncio resident in South Sudan. We have had nuncios, but those nuncios were residing elsewhere. It is for the first time after the visit of the Holy Father that he has now appointed for us a permanent representative staying with us here in Juba,” said Laku.
Archbishop Séamus Patrick Horgan, the new Papal representative to South Sudan, said South Sudan has a very special place in his heart and the heart of the Holy Father, Pope Francis.
“You know that when the Pope came to you last year, you remember he said that South Sudan has a very special place in his heart, and so I think he wanted to send a resident representative so that his presence would be here in a more stable manner,” said Horgan.
“So thank you for embracing that position of the Pope and for embracing me. Already, South Sudan is beginning to have a place also in my heart, and I know this will be a happy and fruitful mission. So thank you very much for your welcome,” he added.
On May 14, Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Séamus Patrick Horgan as the first-ever resident Apostolic Nuncio to South Sudan. He is a native of Ireland, where he was born in the Catholic Diocese of Killaloe in August 1969.
He was ordained a priest in June 1994 after completing his priestly studies and formation.
The Archbishop had served in various Apostolic Nunciatures, including Uganda, Switzerland, the Philippines and Italy.