Why Turn Easter “into season of sadness?”: South Sudan’s Apostolic Nuncio Urges Christian Politicians to Silence Weapons

He adds, “We think too of our brothers and sisters in western Equatoria, thousands of whom have been displaced, many of them now living in church compounds.”

“We think of those areas in central Equatoria also, where the noise of gunfire has become too frequent a spectacle. We think of those in IDP camps around Juba and elsewhere, who live in fear and uncertainty,” he further laments.

The pioneer resident Apostolic Nuncio in South Sudan poses with concern, “How can this be? How can we who call ourselves Christians turn this Feast of Easter into a season of sadness?”

Addressing himself to politicians in South Sudan where Christianity accounts for some 60.5 percent of the population, the Irish-born Vatican diplomat appeals, “I call on all Christians, especially those exercising authority and leadership at every level, to silence the weapons this Easter.”

“Allow this beloved people to come out of the grave, to rise from the tomb, and to leave violence behind,” Archbishop Horgan further appeals in his Easter 2025 Message.

Describing Easter as the celebration of Christ’s victory over death, he emphasizes that the Resurrection of the Lord “is a time for us to put away the logic of death and to embrace the new life offered by Christ.”

“Christ, who knew his way out of the grave, calls us also out of our graves. Out of our graves of sin and selfishness and egotism, indifference to the sufferings of others,” the Apostolic Nuncio, whose Episcopal Consecration took place in Rome in July 2024, says.

He continues, “The risen Christ calls us out of these tombs, the tombs of violence, of mutual suspicion, the tombs where the logic of death holds sway; where we stir up hatred against the other and take up weapons against our brothers for our own narrow advancement. To live in this way is to live in the grave. But Christ calls us to rise from our graves.”

Archbishop Horgan goes on to recall Pope Francis' message during the Angelus prayer on March 30. The Holy Father said, “I am following the situation in South Sudan with concern. I renew my heartfelt appeal to all leaders to do their utmost to lower the tension in the country. We must put aside our differences and, with courage and responsibility, sit around the table and engage in constructive dialogue.”

“Only in this way will it be possible to alleviate the suffering of the beloved South Sudanese people and to build a future of peace and stability,” Archbishop Horgan further recalls the words of Pope Francis on March 30.

South Sudan is experiencing renewed conflict between the South Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO) and the South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF), following the arrest of political leaders, including First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny.

Since the signing of the September 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) in Addis Ababa, peace in South Sudan has been fragile. Despite the agreement, tensions between SSPDF and SPLA-IO have reportedly persisted, fuelled by political rivalries, politics of succession, ethnic divisions, and delays in the full implementation of the peace deal. 

The situation worsened in early 2025, when renewed clashes erupted between the two factions, leading to widespread displacement and casualties.

The reported arrest of the first Vice President, Dr. Machar, which followed the arrest of other leaders in the opposition, escalated tensions in the world’s youngest nation, raising fears of a return to large-scale conflict.

In his Easter 2025 video recording, Archbishop Horgan also reflects on the second anniversary of the civil war in neighbouring Sudan. He says, “This Easter marks a sombre anniversary for them, two years since the beginning of the brutal civil war. God grant that our neighbours, too, may find a way out of the tomb. We pray for them in this Easter season.”

(Story continues below)

“The first and repeated greeting of the risen Christ was, Peace be with you. May this peace descend like the dewfall on our beloved land. May every follower of Christ and all men and women of goodwill hear this greeting of peace and silence the weapons of war,” he implores.

Archbishop Horgan further says, “Christ reaches down to us and would take us by the hand out of our tombs. Let us rise with him.”

Meanwhile, in his Easter 2025 Message, President Salva Kiir, a Catholic, has called on South Sudanese to embrace the spirit of love, peace, and patriotism during the Easter Season.

“The abiding message of Easter is that God so loved the world, the whole world, that He sent His son to live among us to show us how to love one another, and to lay down His own life for others in a love that proved stronger than death,” President Kir says.

He adds, “As we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, may your heart be filled with His eternal love and peace.”

“Let us show love to one another as God so loved the world. Keep our country in your prayers, so that we may live in peace and harmony,” the South Sudanese President says.