By Baraka John
YAMBIO, SOUTH SUDAN — Senior church leaders from the Catholic, Episcopal, and Lutheran churches issued a joint Christmas message on Friday, urging South Sudanese citizens to embrace peace, love, forgiveness and unity as the nation celebrates the festive season.
Addressing the press together, the religious leaders emphasized that Christmas is not only a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, but also a powerful reminder of God’s call for reconciliation and peaceful coexistence among His people — a message that resonates deeply in a country striving for lasting harmony and social cohesion.
Archbishop Peni Highlights Forgiveness and Peace
The Most Rev. Dr. Enosa Peni, Archbishop of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan in the Western Equatoria Internal Province, described Christmas as a sign of peace among God’s people. He urged believers to use the season not just for celebration but as a time to forgive one another and heal relationships damaged by conflict and misunderstanding.
“Christmas reminds us that peace begins in our hearts,” Archbishop Peni said, encouraging families and communities to lay aside grievances and pursue harmony — a foundational step in building unity across society.
Lutheran Bishop Affirms God’s Unfailing Love
Joining the message, Bishop Peter Anibati Abia of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sudan and South Sudan spoke about the unfailing love of God, particularly in times of hardship. He reminded Christians that even amid difficulties, God’s light continues to shine, bringing hope and comfort to all who trust in Him.
“This festive season reminds us that God’s love never fails,” Bishop Abia said, underlining that Christmas brings a message of hope to the darkest corners of human experience.
Catholic Bishop Urges Unity and Collective Effort
Meanwhile, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio, underscored the importance of unity among citizens for the growth of communities and the nation at large. He called on South Sudanese to remain together as children of God despite the many challenges they face.
Bishop Hiiboro stressed that peace remains the country’s greatest need and that achieving lasting peace requires collective effort and commitment from everyone — from families and communities to leaders and citizens.
“Nothing does South Sudan need more than peace,” Bishop Hiiboro said. “And peace requires all of us to work for it.”
His call aligns with a recent Christmas message released by the South Sudan Council of Churches, which highlighted peace, justice, healing and respect for ethnic differences as central themes for the nation’s celebration. The church message emphasized that Christmas time is a time for justice, peace, healing and reconciliation and urged citizens to pray for resumed dialogue and peaceful coexistence.
A Season of Reflection Amid Ongoing Challenges
The joint statement from the church leaders comes as communities across South Sudan celebrate Christmas against a backdrop of ongoing calls for reconciliation, stability, and national unity. The country continues to grapple with social and political challenges that have affected peace processes and community life. In this context, faith leaders have repeatedly stressed the importance of religion as a source of hope and moral guidance for the nation’s recovery
This united appeal for peace and love resonates with numerous other Christian voices calling on believers to reflect Christ’s light and unity in times of division — echoing similar seasonal messages from church leaders not only in South Sudan but across the global Christian community.
