The Holy Father Pope Francis on 04 February 2023 has assured South Sudanese Bishops’, Priests, deacons, consecrated persons and seminarians of his commitment to continue praying for them to always be generous pastors and witnesses.
In his speech during a meeting with religious members at the Cathedral of Saint Theresa, he said prophets of closeness who accompany the people are intercessors with uplifted arms.
“I pray that you will always be generous pastors and witnesses, armed only with prayer and love; that you allow yourselves, in meekness, to be constantly surprised by God’s grace; and that you may become a means of salvation for others, prophets of closeness who accompany the people, intercessors with uplifted arms.”
His Holiness urged the religious leaders to make efforts and banish the temptation to individualism, to one-sided interests.
“Let us make every effort to banish the temptation to individualism, to partisan interests. How sad it is when the Church’s pastors are incapable of communion, when they fail to cooperate, and even ignore one another.”
“Let us cultivate mutual respect, closeness and practical cooperation. If we fail to do this ourselves, how can we preach it to others?” Pope Francis asked.
He called on Bishops’, Priests, deacons, consecrated persons and seminarians to reflect on Moses’s Scripture which offers three images of staff in hand, outstretched hands, and his hands raised to heaven.
“Let us now go back to Moses, and reflect on the art of intercession, let us look at his hands. Scripture offers us three images in this regard: Moses with staff in hand, Moses with outstretched hands, Moses with his hands raised to heaven.”
The Holy Father encouraged Bishops’, Priests, deacons, consecrated persons and seminarians not to exercise their ministry by chasing after religious or social prestige, but rather by walking in the midst of and alongside people.
“We must never exercise our ministry by chasing after religious or social prestige, but rather by walking in the midst of and alongside our people, learning to listen and to dialogue, cooperating as ministers with one another and with the laity.”
Pope Francis who for the first time stepped on the land of the South Sudanese met with Bishops and priests, priests and deacons, pastors and seminarians, ordained ministers and religious as part of his ecumenical Pilgrimage to South Sudan’s capital Juba.