The Catholic Bishops of South Sudan call on the people to end lack of enthusiasm for courage and peace to prevail in the country.
The Bishops in a statement following their three-day meeting in Juba say lasting peace requires personal transformation, repentance and change of heart through prayer.
Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio calls on South Sudanese to be hopeful.
He explains that the Bishops and the Apostolic Administrators in Juba met, prayed together and briefed themselves on the situation in various dioceses.
South Sudanese should take the message of the Bishops seriously and work for peace, says Fr Charles Abbud, the Secretary-General of the Catholic Bishops of South Sudan.
The Bishops and the Apostolic Administrators challenge the militaristic culture in South Sudan where civilians carry assault guns.
They condemn the trade in arms, which provides weapons to the civil population to promote insecurity countrywide.
The Bishops stress the need for peaceful disarmament of civilians.
The Catholic prelates are upset to hear reports that there are still many child soldiers.
They appeal for the release of child soldiers and their return to school.