VATICAN - Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe in Juba, Sudan: “The Lord once again, invites all of you, priests, religious men and women, and the lay faithful to unite yourselves closely with him, and he sends you to every town and village in Sudan to announce his Kingdom of love, reconciliation, justice and peace”

Juba (Fides Service) - After his pastoral visit to Khartoum, Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples is now in the archdiocese of Juba. “Juba is a city with a long history, it is important for the Church as a metropolitan see and also for the government of the Southern part Sudan - Cardinal Sepe said to the local Catholic community gathered in the parish church of Saint Joseph -. No one can deny the importance of this region marked by the courageous presence of Christians of various denominations who work together in a spirit of Christian charity to promote the Gospel values of reconciliation and justice and peace in your region and all over Sudan”. With regard to the reason for his pastoral visit the Cardinal said: “I have come on behalf of the Holy Father to confirm you in the faith and assure you that you are not alone. The Holy Father wants us all to grow in charity and respect for people of different faiths and traditions so as to serve humanity together”.
In his homily during Mass at the Cathedral dedicated to Saint Theresa the Cardinal spoke about mission. “I have come to confirm you in the faith and remind you of the important mission which the Lord entrusted to the people of God - said Cardinal Sepe - . On behalf of the Pope I thank you for being keeping the faith in the face of many temptations and trials. Dear brothers and sisters we are called to permanent mission and service for the Kingdom of God and God’s Kingdom is not only a reality to announce, it is something which Jesus showed with his works. The Kingdom is present when ever and wherever God’s will is done”. The Cardinal the said: “I do understand that the mission ahead of you is, indeed, very pressing and challenging. However, you need to re-launch and give a fresh impulse to your missionary commitment in the Church of Sudan and society at large, where there is an urgent need of renewal and reconstruction in various aspects of life”. Among the values indispensable for successful mission the Cardinal mentioned charity as a guide for all mission, the need to be in constant spiritual communion with Christ through prayer and the sacraments and efforts to coordinate pastoral activity without dispersion and with one goal. The Cardinal concluded his homily with these words: “The Lord once again, invites all of you, priests, religious men and women, and the lay faithful to unite yourselves closely with him, and he sends you to every town and village in Sudan to announce his Kingdom of love, reconciliation, justice and peace”.
Meeting with clergy, religious and lay Catholics on the evening of Monday 20 February Cardinal Sepe expressed gratitude “for the great contribution you have made and continue to make towards the growth of the Church in this area despite the long standing civil war”. Besides the “urgent need of promoting, reconciliation, forgiveness and peace in Sudan, the work which the Church has also to champion” the Cardinal mentioned some pastoral matters requiring attention: deterioration of the true Christian family life, which is manifested in tendencies such as polygamy and a limited number of sacramental marriages; proliferation of sects; Poverty; forced conversion to other religions and especially Islam, and the danger of tribalism. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 21/2/2006, righe 41, parole 604)