Delegations representing African Catholic organizations were greeted with a huge reception when they arrived in Rumbek on Saturday to take part in the plenary of the Catholic bishops of Sudan.
A brass band from Don Bosco Mission in Tonj, St. Monica’s Women Association, Comboni Primary School pupils, together with bishops and Lakes state authorities received the representatives from the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) and the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA), Good News Radio reported.SECAM president Polycarp Cardinal Pengo, archbishop of Dar Es Salam, Tanzania, thanked the impressive “grand reception.”
The cardinal revealed that it was his first time to step on Sudan soil.
He added that the delegations came to Rumbek to bring messages of hope and love.
Cardinal Pengo apologized for some SECAM members were unable to join the Bishops of Sudan.
He explained that an Archbishop from Burundi and another from Angola had to travel to Abidjan, Ivory Coast, for another key meeting called by the Vatican.
Meanwhile, the delegation from Khartoum headed by Cardinal Gabriel Zubeir Wako arrived today in Rumbek after its Saturday flight was cancelled.