Increase peace efforts, say South Sudan Church leaders in Christmas message

Christian leaders in South Sudan have in a joint Christmas message urged respect for differences and an increase in efforts to build peace in the country.

The letter, released by the South Sudan Council of Churches (SSCC), was signed by bishops and leaders of the country's Catholic Church, the Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian Church and the Pentecostal Church. Among them was the Catholic Archbishop Paolino Lukudu Loro of Juba.

While recognizing the ongoing conflicts and continuing hardships of the people in the country, despite last year's "Revitalized Agreement for the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan," the church leaders urged people to recognize in the face of the Child Jesus the faces of all those who suffer.

"On this festive day, let us ask the Lord for Peace, Healing, Forgiveness and Reconciliation for South Sudan," they said, while expressing their hope that the will to resume dialogue might prevail, and that a solution might finally be reached.

The church leaders encouraged people to recognize the face of Jesus in all those wounded by conflict, those who go hungry and suffer from diseases, those without a home and a job, and those children who have been forced to work or to enroll as soldiers.

"May we at least recover respect for the dignity of every person through a shared commitment to rebuild the fabric of society, without regard for ethnic membership," they said.

Lasting peace and a ceasefire between President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Rieck Machar have been slow to materialize, despite insistent calls from the international community.

In April, the pope knelt down to kiss the feet of the two protagonists of the crisis after they went together to Rome for an audience and a spiritual retreat. He begged them to do their utmost to close the long chapter of tensions that had divided the country since its independence in July 2011.