The Catholic Archbishop of Juba has consoled a multitude of mourners that gathered at the house of the late General Paulino Matip Nhial to pray for his eternal rest and console his family.
A huge crowd gathered this morning in Juba for the funeral rites of General Matip.President, Salva Kiir Mayardit, Vice-president Riek Machar Teny, Speaker James Wani Igga, national ministers, deputy ministers and MPs, SPLA officers, Central Equatoria State ministers and MPs, foreign dignitaries, and church personnel were among the mourners.
Archbishop Paolino Lukudu Loro, who presided at the public prayer, said the Church teaches that the late General is already in a new place.
He told the gathering that if the late general could talk he would tell people not to cry because he was in a good place.
Archbishop Lukudu said the late General was doing well when he was alive.
He added that the presence of such a crowd around the remains of General Matip was a sign that he was a good person.
He added that General Matip achieved fruits after offering his life to serve the people in the Sudan and especially in South Sudan.
Archbishop Lukudu thanked God allowing General Matip to live one year in independent South Sudan.
General Paulino Matip’s body was brought from the airport to the army’s general headquarters in New Site where he received military honours.
After the prayers service at his Juba home, he was flown to Mayom County, in Unity State, for burial in his birthplace.