Interview with bishop in South Sudan
In April last year, the bishop-elect of Rumbek in South Sudan, Christian Carlassare, was shot in the legs. Thankfully, Bishop Christian Carlassare has since recovered and was consecrated as bishop. He spoke with ACN about the current situation in South Sudan.
By ACN Staff
Bishop Christian Carlassare and the Apostolic Nuncio. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)
South Sudan is the youngest country in the world, only gaining formal independence from Sudan in 2011. Sadly, South Sudan has seen much unrest and civil war. Raquel Martin, on behalf of ACN, interviewed Bishop Christian Carlassare of the Diocese of Rumbek about the current situation in South Sudan. Before Bishop Carlassare, there had been no Bishop of Rumbek for ten years. In April 2021, shortly after being named as the new bishop, Bishop Carlassare was shot in the legs during an attack.
Bishop Christian Carlassare after being shot. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)
During the interview, Bishop Carlassare, who is originally from Italy, explained how delicate peace and stability is in many parts of Africa:
“My experience with these African countries has shown me that stability is very fragile, and you need to give things time, and not jump to conclusions about what is going on. Instability doesn’t help, because we can’t know where it will lead. Naturally, uncertainty in Sudan and Ethiopia, where the situation is also very delicate, do not help South Sudan achieve the peace and tranquility it hopes for, but of course each country has to be responsible for itself. Our country sought the mediation of regional states for its peace process, but now, with all these developments, it will have to invest more in its peace-making efforts.”
Bishop Carlassare also detailed that although the majority of South Sudan’s population are Christians, the Faith is still very young here and does not have deep roots yet. This is part of the reason there is still so much violence in South Sudan:
“Violence should be far from Christianity, but it is very much present. So many people take to weapons and use them to achieve their interests and goals! There is much work to be done. The population suffers because of the conflicts, instability, endemic poverty and lack of services. The Church suffers from the same wounds as the population, such as poverty and the scars of violence. The attack I suffered was a clear sign of this.”
Bishop Carlassare spoke about how the attack against him last year shocked him:
“This was a great shock for me. I had been in many dangerous situations in South Sudan, but I had never felt endangered, because I was protected by the people. But that day I was faced with two young men who were pointing guns at me, during the night, and with nowhere to run to. They shot me, but thankfully the Lord guided the bullets and I wasn’t hurt too badly. They hit the muscles in my legs but missed any vital areas.
Children praying the Rosary. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)
This was a moment of grace, because it gave me the humility to be like the people, bearing the same wounds as the people. I interpret this as a sign to get back on my feet and show them that they too can get back on their feet, despite the wounds caused by an endless conflict, despite the presence of so many weapons, so many territories occupied by militias and displaced people. When faced with this despair we have to provide hope that their wounds can be healed, that we can get back on our feet and walk along the path of peace.”
Bishop Carlassare has this message to people in the West about how we should view Africa:
“We should look at Africa knowing that there are people who hope for a better life, with better prospects. We need to open room for the positivity there is in Africa, helping to sustain those who work with goodwill, stable governments that have the best interests of their citizens at heart and economies that can work better. Support from the west is very important to sustain these young countries and provide good examples so that they make responsible decisions, for the common good and not just for the benefit of a few. Cooperation with Africa should focus on this justice and these positive steps.”
Please join us in prayer that South Sudan and all African countries may soon enjoy peace.