Throughout His ministry, Jesus Christ reached out to the marginalised — the poor, the hungry, the troubled, among others. In South Sudan, the Church is following Jesus' example by doing its part in helping residents suffering from the civil war, a humanitarian crisis, and the threat of mass starvation.
New Jersey Rep. Chris Smith, chair of the House Subcommittee on Global Human Rights, recently met with Archbishop Paulino Lukudu Loro of Juba, the capital city of South Sudan. The meeting was part of a fact-finding mission on the human rights situation in the African nation.
Smith recounted how Archbishop Lukudu "described a loss of hope upon many people" in South Sudan, according to The Catholic News Agency.
"The great expectations from five years ago when they became independent have, for the time being, crashed and burned, although hope remains eternal," the American lawmaker said.
The Roman Catholic official also "expressed grave concerns about the humanitarian crisis, the crisis of leadership," according to Smith.
Amid the humanitarian crisis, church workers are "scrambling to provide shelter" and "safe refuge" for the many refugees there, Smith said, recalling his meeting with Archbishop Lukudu.
"The Church plays a key role, as always and everywhere, in the provision of humanitarian aid," Smith said.
"The bishops I met with are just absolutely committed to living out Matthew 25, the vulnerable people and helping people as if they were Christ," he added.
South Sudan became an independent country in 2011, but since December 2013, the African nation has been torn by a civil war between government forces and the Sudan People's Liberation Army.
The two forces initially entered into a peace agreement, which subsequently collapsed as violence erupted anew.
Aside from Archbishop Lukudu, Smith also met with South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit, and Defence Minister Kuol Manyang Juuk to bring to their attention the attack on some aid workers in the country.
