South Sudanese Youths at Catholic Bishop’s Tournament Urged to be Agents of Peace and Unity

Bishop Lodiong highlighted unity as a key pillar of the 10-day tournament, which is set to conclude on January 19.

“The theme also invites us to become agents of unity. Why unity? Because in this country, most of the time we group ourselves into tribal cliques instead of seeing ourselves as one nation,” he explained.

He went on to warn against the dangers of tribalism and regionalism, observing that they have led to an inferiority complex among some members of the community.

“None of us should feel inferior in this country,” said the Bishop of Yei since his Episcopal Consecration in May 2022, urging young people to promote unity and the belief that all citizens can contribute to the nation’s development when they work together.

“Let this theme really instill in us the understanding that peace is very important, and peace can only come when we are united together,” the Bishop urged.

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He called upon the participants, who are drawn from all the Parishes of his Episcopal See, to view the tournament as a platform for growth, learning, and nurturing talent and self-confidence.

“Who knows, some of you may even end up participating in the major leagues you always admire in Europe, to represent us. Take this as an opportunity for talent development, learning from each other, even the tactics on the field, so that together we move forward, developing ourselves and our talents,” the Catholic Church leader said.

Bishop Lodiong underscored the spiritual dimension of the annual event, which began in 2025, reminding the participants that faith should guide all activities, including sports.

“In whatever you do, even when playing football, remember that you are a Christian. A Christian is not someone who hurts others, but someone who loves, helps others to grow and develop their talents, and, in the end, helps to build the community,” he said.

The 10-day diocesan event, organized by the Office of Youth Ministry in partnership with other organizations, including Women for Women International and YMCA South Sudan, features inter-parish football matches alongside activities such as environmental and health campaigns, youth resilience exhibitions, and peace dialogues.