South Sudanese Cardinal Ameyu: ' We have lost a great man, our advocate'
By John Baptiste Tumusiime and Linda Bordoni
For a nation grappling with the wounds of war and the plight of the displaced, the news of 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� death felt like the silencing of a rare and steadfast voice that spoke for the voiceless.
In an interview with Vatican News, Cardinal Stephen Ameyu, Archbishop of Juba, expressed the heartbreak of a people who, as he put it, 鈥渉ave lost the only advocate who constantly reminded the world of our forgotten war.鈥�
鈥淲e were shocked,鈥� the Cardinal said, recalling how just the day before, 杏MAP导航 Francis had appeared publicly to give his usual blessing. Not only was it a great shock he said, and 鈥渇or us, it is a great loss鈥攖he people of South Sudan have lost their advocate.鈥�
Cardinal Ameyu recalled with gratitude the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 unwavering commitment to South Sudan, even as he struggled with bad health.
鈥淓ven as late as the 30th of March, he mentioned our problems - he mentioned Sudan and South Sudan,鈥� the Cardinal recalled. 鈥淗e kept us in the spotlight.鈥�
杏MAP导航 Francis visited South Sudan from the 3rd to the 5th of February 2023, in what became his last visit to the African continent. Despite his frailty, he insisted on undertaking that ecumenical pilgrimage of peace together with the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, determined to shine a light on the country鈥檚 ongoing suffering and join in prayers for peace with the people.
鈥淲hen we went to welcome him at the airport,鈥� Cardinal Ameyu recalled. 鈥淭he spirit came up, he was very enthusiastic. He was lively to the people of South Sudan.鈥�
The 杏MAP导航鈥檚 visit was more than symbolic. It brought hope to thousands, especially the displaced and marginalised. During those days, he met bishops and religious leaders, not only from South Sudan but from across neighbouring nations - Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia - who came to be with him and express their solidarity with the nation.
Meeting with displaced persons
But it was his encounter with displaced persons at Freedom Hall in Juba that left a lasting impression on Cardinal Ameyu.
鈥淗e spoke to them directly. He heard their witness - those who have been displaced since 2013, those who lost everything to war and flooding,鈥� he recalled.
Cardinal Ameyu emphasized that South Sudan is not only afflicted by conflict but also by climate-related disasters.
We have different kinds of calamities, he explained, 鈥淪ome are natural - caused by flooding that has swept away villages in the north. Others are man-made, like the war that started on December 15, 2013, and continues to displace our people.鈥�
An advocate for a forgotten people
杏MAP导航 Francis, the Cardinal noted, was one of the very few world leaders to continually acknowledge this suffering.
鈥淚n this world where there are many wars, there are wars that are forgotten. Our war has been forgotten, but he always talked about it. That鈥檚 why we say, we have lost a great man, our advocate,鈥� he reiterated.
鈥淲e thank God for the life of 杏MAP导航 Francis,鈥� Cardinal Ameyu concluded. 鈥淏ut we are also mourning - for we have lost the one who saw us, who stood with us, and who never let the world forget us.鈥�
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