A designated bishop in South Sudan was shot in both legs at the beginning of the week. The future bishop’s life is not in danger, although he has lost a lot of blood. He has asked for prayers for the people of his diocese.

By ACN Staff

The Catholic Diocese of Rumbek, in central South Sudan, has been without a bishop since July 2011, following the death of Italian-born Bishop Caesar Mazzolari. Another Italian priest, Fr. Christian Carlassare a Comboni missionary, has recently been designated as the next Bishop of Rumbek. Fr. Carlassare was scheduled to be consecrated as bishop on the 23rd of May.

Sadly, on the night of the 24th-25th of April, gunmen entered the priest’s home and shot him in both legs several times. The designated bishop lost a lot of blood but Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) understands that his life is not in danger.

Fr. Carlassare phoned his Comboni superiors in Italy himself following the incident. He told them that he was stable and had the following request:

"Pray not so much for me, but for the people of Rumbek who are suffering more than me."

ACN spoke with Father Louis Okot, provincial of the Comboni in South Sudan who is based in South Sudan’s capital Juba. He said the following about the incident:

“We did not expect in any way that Bishop Carlassare would suffer something like this. The reception of him in the diocese a few days before was extremely good, full of hope. On Saturday we spoke on the phone because we were coordinating preparations for the episcopal ordination, which had been scheduled for Pentecost. How we were going to organize the ceremony, the soundsystem, the transfer of guests … Father Christian loves this country and the diocese that has been entrusted to him. We have worked very closely for many years and I know that he is a missionary who lives deeply the charism of the Comboni Missionaries, that is none other than being on the front line, in the line of fire as they say, that is part of our dedication.”

ACN’s projects manager for South Sudan, Kinga Schierstaedt, explains that the conflict in South Sudan has only made the people there more vulnerable. She goes on to explain what ACN has learned about the situation in South Sudan from the local Church:

“they tell us that they suffer from food insecurity and epidemics; not only COVID but also cholera. South Sudan faces insurmountable challenges attributed to civil conflicts, recurring natural disasters such as floods, and economic collapse. Currently it is the rainy season, and the floods and locusts have further worsened the living conditions of millions of South Sudanese.”

South Sudan is home to several tribes who have historically been in conflict over cattle, the traditional symbol of wealth in the African country. South Sudan had been part of Sudan but gained independence after a long struggle in 2011. Shortly after independence the newly independent country was torn apart by civil war as tribal tensions bubbled over. The Church played a vital role in mediating a ceasefire. Accurate demographic information is hard to obtain but the majority of the South Sudanese population are Christians, with Catholicism being the largest denomination followed by Anglicanism. A significant portion of the South Sudanese population are still animists.

Speaking on the Church’s role in South Sudan, Kinga Schierstaedt said the following:

“despite the challenges, the church has been proactive in building bridges amongst ethnic groups, promoting socio-economic development and providing humanitarian assistance to the suffering population."

Schierstaedt wishes Fr. Carlassare a speedy recovery:

“This attack fills us with pain, but we must keep moving forward. Yesterday we celebrated the feast of the Good Shepherd who gives everything to go and find the lost sheep. The appointment of Bishop Carlassare had brought much hope to the diocese. The priests, religious and laity of Rumbek have many dreams and plans. We must support them more than ever so that they do not feel alone."

Please keep Fr. Carlassare and the people of his diocese in your prayers. If you wish to help the Church in places like South Sudan, please consider making a donation to Aid to the Church in Need.