Season of Forgiveness in Juba
Cardinal Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla stood before a packed St. Theresa Cathedral in Juba on Christmas Eve, offering a simple plea: “forgive and love.” At a time when many South Sudanese families carry memories of conflict, his words landed with quiet urgency.
The prelate framed Christmas as a living reminder that divine love once took human form, emphasising that “forgiveness is the seed of lasting peace.” His message echoes previous calls by church leaders who often mediate local disputes.
Christian Doctrine and Social Healing
In Catholic teaching, reconciliation is sacramental; yet Cardinal Ameyu moved the concept from confessional booths to village squares. He argued that national healing begins in households willing to reopen dialogue after years of mistrust.
The analogy of God sending Christ to “liberate brothers and sisters” served as theological groundwork. By linking Bethlehem to present-day South Sudan, he positioned faith as both spiritual comfort and civic responsibility.
Youth Perspective on Reconciliation
Outside the cathedral, 23-year-old student Mary Taban said the sermon “felt like a personal challenge to my generation.” Many youths born after 2005 have known little except intermittent violence; they now weigh futures shaped by either resentment or renewal.
Student groups plan post-holiday forums on social media to discuss practical forgiveness, from mending school rivalries to volunteering in displacement camps. Such initiatives underscore the cardinal’s belief that small acts ripple outward.
Regional Echoes for Peace
Observers note that messages of unconditional love resonate beyond religious lines. Muslim community leader Sheikh Abdallah Khamis, interviewed by state radio, welcomed the homily, calling it “shared moral terrain for all believers committed to peace.”
International partners, including the African Union Mission, frequently cite grassroots reconciliation as key to implementing the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement. Cardinal Ameyu’s seasonal address may therefore complement diplomatic frameworks by adding moral momentum.
Future Outlook for South Sudan
With Lent only weeks away, the archdiocese plans village outreach programs centred on storytelling circles and trauma counselling. Church spokesperson Fr. Samuel Ader predicts “steady, modest progress if citizens keep Christmas promises alive into daily routines.”
For now, candlelight carols have dimmed, but the cardinal’s refrain lingers: love first, argue later. Whether that refrain shapes 2024 community relations remains in the hands—and hearts—of ordinary South Sudanese.