In the January 31 interview, Cardinal Czerny provided details of his pastoral trip to South Sudan, which he said was to include Holy Eucharist to mark the first anniversary of the first-ever Papal visit to the East-Central African nation, to be celebrated at St. Theresa’s Cathedral of Juba Archdiocese, the venue of Pope Francis’ 4 February 2023 meeting with members of the Clergy, women and men Religious, and Seminarians.
The Cardinal told ACI Africa that he was also scheduled to visit South Sudan’s Malakal Diocese, where he would travel to Renk, a Sudan-South Sudan “outreach point” for those fleeing violence in Sudan’s capital city, Khartoum. There, he is scheduled to “bless a boat”, which Caritas South Sudan is to use to transport migrants and refugees en route to Malakal along River Nile.
On February 8, the Feast of St. Josephine Bakhita, he is scheduled to preside over Holy Mass at a Malakal Catholic Church dedicated in honor of the Sudanese-born saint, who is the patron saint of victims of modern slavery and human trafficking.
Ordaining three Deacons and leading the people of God at St. Josephine Bakhita Church in Malakal in marking the tenth annual World Day of Prayer and Reflection against Human Trafficking, whose theme is, “Journeying in Dignity. Listen. Dream. Act” are additional activities slated for February 8, the Cardinal’s last full day in South Sudan.
In the January 31 interview, the Prefect of the DPIHD sought the intercession of St. Josephine Bakhita in the fight against human trafficking, and other forms of slavery in the world.
“We pray for her intercession also, especially because we all need to be encouraged and oriented in our struggle against human trafficking and contemporary slavery,” the 77-year-old Cardinal, who founded and directed the African Jesuit AIDS Network (AJAN) said.
He added in reference to the vice of human trafficking, “Everybody needs to help with that very important issue.”
The Catholic Church leader, who was Ordained Bishop on 4 October 2019 and elevated to Cardinal the following day went on to implore for resolution of violent conflicts in various parts of the globe, saying, “At this moment in the world, peace is practically everyone's priority.”
“Let's not give up our efforts to be both creative and courageous in bringing to the world the peace, which our Lord brought us, and which is our mission to share and to spread,” Cardinal Czerny told ACI Africa during the January 31 interview.
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