By Ginaba Lino
The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Yei, Rev. Alex Lodiong Sakor, has called on the people of South Sudan to embrace peace, honesty, and respect for human life as the nation celebrates Christmas.
Delivering his 2025 Christmas message, Bishop Lodiong said South Sudan is richly blessed with natural resources and should not be a country where people kill one another or live in corruption.
“We are blessed with many resources in this country,” he said. “We should not destroy ourselves or follow corrupt ways of life. If God is with us, we must live according to His will loving, forgiving, and respecting one another.”
Drawing his message from the Gospel of Matthew, the Bishop reflected on the birth of Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, meaning “God with us.” He said this message reminds believers that even amid life’s challenges, God has not abandoned His people.
“Many of our people struggle every day without knowing how they will feed their families,” Bishop Lodiong said. “Yet they survive because God provides for them. That is why we must give Him the reverence He deserves.”
The Bishop urged Christians to let Christmas be a time of conversion, peace, and renewal, encouraging people to turn away from hatred and greed, and instead promote love and forgiveness within their communities.
He also warned against greed and the misuse of national wealth by a few individuals, saying true respect for God is shown through living a just and upright life.
“Let us enter the New Year with the spirit that God is with us,” he said. “May we live as peaceful people who respect life and love one another as brothers and sisters.”
Bishop Lodiong concluded his message by blessing the people of South Sudan and wishing them a peaceful and joyous Christmas and New Year.