By Ginaba Lino Atovura
In a nation battered by war and humanitarian crisis, the Christmas message of Rt. Rev. Yunan Tombe Trille Kuku, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of El Obeid, stands as both a spiritual reminder and a moral challenge: “Do not be afraid.”
Drawing from the Gospel of Luke (2:10), Bishop Yunan speaks directly to the heart of a suffering nation, urging Sudanese Christians to reclaim courage and faith amid conflict and displacement. He reminds the faithful that Christmas is not merely a time of celebration, but a sacred invitation to rediscover peace in the face of despair.
“The birth of Christ opens the way for our reconciliation with our Creator. Christ Himself has brought peace between us and has made the two into one entity, breaking down the barrier which used to keep them apart,” the Bishop wrote.
Bishop Yunan’s message reflects deep pastoral concern and awareness of the realities facing Sudan’s people. From Kordofan to Darfur, parishes have been destroyed, families displaced, and churches silenced under the weight of war. Yet, even “amid showers of drones and bombs,” he insists that faith must not yield to fear.
His Christmas letter goes beyond comfort; it is a call to moral renewal and inclusive peacebuilding. The Bishop urges Sudanese citizens to embrace dialogue that transcends ethnic, political, and regional divisions.
“We are sons and daughters of our Sudanese parents and must be included in decision-making for lasting peace,” he said, appealing to civil society, youth, women, and faith communities to unite in rebuilding the nation.
For Bishop Yunan, faith is not passive; it is an act of peaceful resistance against hopelessness. He links prayer with action, reminding believers that true peace begins in the heart but must extend into public life.
Quoting Scripture, he said: “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, plans for your welfare, not for woe” (Jeremiah 29:11), anchoring his message in divine assurance and urging Christians to trust in God’s plan even amid war and uncertainty.
As Sudan approaches its 70th Independence anniversary in 2026, Bishop Yunan’s message resonates as both a Christmas reflection and a civic call to renewal. He invites Sudanese to “make our hearts the manger where the Baby Jesus can live,” symbolizing inner conversion as the first step toward national healing.
“Let us see ourselves as brothers and sisters in solidarity, weeping with those who mourn and rejoicing with those who hope,” he wrote.
In a country weary from conflict, the Bishop’s message offers a vision of peace born not from power, but from humility and forgiveness. His words remind the faithful that hope is not denial of suffering, but a courageous choice to believe that Christ remains present even in the ruins of war.
Through his Christmas message, Bishop Yunan Tombe Trille Kuku offers Sudan a gospel of courage, reconciliation, and steadfast faith, a divine call to rebuild both heart and homeland with the courage to say: “Do not be afraid.”