The Faithful hail Archbishop Lukudu for his contribution to Peace

“It’s unfortunate that with his death, people are still fighting, and people are dying.”

By Winnie Cirino

Retired Catholic Archbishop of South Sudan Paulino Lukudu Loro died in Nairobi Monday, just a day after Easter.  The Archbishop served for 30 years in South Sudan and was hailed by the church for his efforts at peace during the country’s long civil war. 

Rev Fr. Samuel Abe, spokesperson of the Catholic Archdiocese of Juba said Bishop Loro was rushed to Nairobi late last month when his health condition started deteriorating before he died earlier this week of stroke.

“He had a very severe stroke which affected his dying and so it escalated into instability of his blood pressure and today the pressure just went down, and it is the cause of the death, primarily it is the stroke on his head.” Abe told The Insider earlier this week.

Abe said the death of Bishop Loro has left a great gap because he has done a lot since the time South Sudan was still part of Sudan. He said Bishop Loro has been a key player in advising the Church and political leaders on ensuring peace prevails in South Sudan 

‘It’s very clear as a peacemaker, a man of peace he always advises people to take the interest of the country above our personal and our individual interests.” Abe revealed.

“It’s up to us to put all his endeavors (and) his initiatives into practice, especially the political leaders, (and) the religious leaders of this country.” Abe said, adding he wished Loro had first witnessed the total peace in the country.

“It’s unfortunate that with his death, people are still fighting, and people are dying.” Abe acknowledged.

Eli Joseph, Chairperson of the Youth of St. Kizito Parish said he was shocked by the death of Bishop Loro. He said Bishop Loro played a great role in South Sudan’s civil wars, including conflicts with Bashir’s government during the long struggle of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement and Army (SPLM/ SPLA) in the 1980’s and 90’s.

He said Loro encouraged the country’s leaders to mutually agree on situations to the long civil war that lasted for over two decades before the it final came to an end in 2005 with the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

“During the negotiations of the Naivasha peace talks, he with Cardinal Zuber, really did their best, during the CPA implementation program, with the late Doctor John Garand De Mabior together,” Joseph said the Archdiocese of Juba witnessed Loro’s constant preaching against the marginalization of South Sudanese by the Khartoum government of Sudan.

Simon Gore, Youth Coordinator at St. Theresa Cathedral said he remembers Bishop Loro for his boldness in telling the truth to the warring leaders.

“The peace process, he was not favoring any side, when he feels that there is slowness in implementation, he approaches both of the partners and air out his voice, and the right thing that they should be doing in order for his flocks not to suffer.” Gore said, noting that Bishop Loro has always been there for the faithful to console and comfort them especially during the recent war. Bishop Loro was appointed archbishop of Juba on 19 February 1983 and served in this office until last year when he was replaced by Bishop Stephen Ameyu Martin.