Cardinal Parolin in South Sudan: Humble service can overcome ‘plague of revenge’
By Devin Watkins
On his second day in South Sudan, Cardinal Pietro Parolin traveled to the northern city of Malakal in Upper Nile State, where he celebrated Mass in the Cathedral of St. Joseph.
The Vatican Secretary of State began his 4-day visit to the African nation on Monday, as he seeks to promote the peace process for which Pope Francis and the local Church have advocated for several years.
Closeness of Pope Francis and universal Church
In his homily for Mass on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Cardinal Parolin shared the Pope’s greetings and closeness with the people of South Sudan.
“The Holy Father still has vivid memories of his visit to South Sudan, in February of this year,” said the Cardinal, “and he carries this country, its people, difficulties and wounds in his heart, as well as its expectations and hopes.”
Cardinal Parolin said his visit to the country seeks to convey “the communion and solidarity of the universal Church” and to remind South Sudanese that no Christian is ever alone since we are all united in Christ.
“And if one member suffers, he or she has a greater right than the others to attention, care, love,” he said. “I would like you to feel the attention, care and love of the whole Church this morning!”
Overcoming ‘plague of revenge’ with faith, hope, charity
The Cardinal Secretary of State went on to lament the many wars that afflict people in various parts of the world, including South Sudan’s own civil war.
He recalled the many people who have fled their homes because of conflict, noting the “great plague of revenge” which he said is “destroying your communities.”
However, added Cardinal Parolin, the Assumption of Mary reminds Christians that evil never has the last word and that the power of those who humiliate others is fleeting, since their “pride, weapons, and money will not save them.”
He encouraged the people of South Sudan to look to Christ and His mother to remember that hope in God never disappoints, especially when Christians combine our hope with faith and concrete actions of humble service on behalf of peace.
“Faith, charity, humility/littleness,” said the Cardinal, “are the path of the Gospel, the path along which Mary walked and which led her to the resplendent place, as Queen, at the right side of her Son Jesus, to be a sign of consolation and hope for the whole world.”
Intercommunal violence among IDPs
Later on Tuesday afternoon, Cardinal Parolin was due to visit a reception center for refugees returning from Sudan.
Malakal has seen several recent incidents of intercommunal violence that have caused the deaths of several people and extensive property damage. A clash at one camp last week killed at least 13 people and injured over 20 others.
The incident occurred at a UN Protection of Civilians Site (PoC) run by UNMISS, the UN’s peacekeeping mission in South Sudan. Over 37,000 internally-displaced persons (IDPs) resided in the Malakal camp as of December 2022.
Encounter with civil authorities
Cardinal Parolin spent Monday in the capital, Juba, meeting with President Salva Kiir Mayardit and First Vice President Riek Machar, as well as with Cardinal Gabriel Zubeir Wako, archbishop emeritus of Khartoum, and Archbishop Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla of Juba.
A press release from the Office of the President said Cardinal Parolin delivered a “message of good will from his Holiness Pope Francis.”
The President and the Cardinal discussed various issues related to the peace process and general elections slated for 2024.
Cardinal Parolin also “called on the people of South Sudan to embrace the spirit of peace and reconciliation in order to build a harmonious society in the country.”
Tree-planting ceremony at Juba’s Cathedral
The Cardinal also took part in a tree-planting ceremony at St. Theresa Cathedral Parish in Juba on Monday, as a sign of the desire of the South Sudanese people to seek peace in their homeland.
In brief remarks at the ceremony, Cardinal Parolin thanked local parishioners for their warm welcome during his third visit to South Sudan. He had traveled to the country in July 2022, after Pope Francis had to postpone his Apostolic Journey on account of his health. The Cardinal returned to South Sudan at Pope Francis’ side when he made his Apostolic Journey on 3-5 February 2023.
Cardinal Parolin invited South Sudanese to “strive for peace and reconciliation in this beautiful country.”
He greeted Archbishop Ameyu and all the faithful of St. Theresa Cathedral Parish in the name of Pope Francis, and encouraged young people to embrace their identity as the future of South Sudan.
In an interview with local media, Cardinal Parolin said the tree-planting ceremony offered a symbolic invitation for people to care for Creation.
Young people especially, he said, are called to care for our common home, since they are the “future of this country, the future of humanity, the future of the world and they should feel very committed to preserving this common home.”
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