Archbishop Justin Welby brings encouragement to Anglicans in South Sudan
The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby arrived in Juba, South Sudan on 30 January saying he brought with him ‘the greetings, love and encouragement’ of his fellow Anglicans to those suffering amid the ongoing conflict in the country.
Praising the South Sudanese Church as ‘an example to us all’ in its consistent and unified calls for peace and an end to violence, Archbishop Justin said he joined its leaders in urging political differences to be set aside for the ‘urgent task’ of bringing healing and reconciliation.
The Bishop of our link Diocese of Maridi, The Rt Revd Justin Badi is pictured above with Justin Welby. He said in a recent email:
“Today we had a good fellowship with the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Justin Welby in Juba. He spoke very well to the Christians to be Ambassadors of reconciliation. And to the leaders , he emphasised for talking the truth. Tomorrow the Archbishop will visit Bor town to see the effect of the conflict for himself and then proceed to Burundi.”
Archbishop Justin, accompanied by his wife, Caroline, is on a five–day visit to South Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo to meet with fellow primates of the Anglican Communion.
Arriving in the capital Juba, Archbishop Justin said: “All our prayers are with the people of South Sudan at this testing time for the young nation. I have come with my wife, Caroline, and my colleague Joanna Udal who has long experience here, bringing the greetings, love and encouragement of your brothers and sisters in Christ around the world.
“The South Sudanese Church is an example to us all in its consistent speaking with one voice for peace, for unity and to an ending to the violence so horrifically perpetrated against so many people. With the South Sudanese Church leaders, I urge political differences to be set aside for the sake of the urgent task of bringing healing and reconciliation.”