Bishop Christian Carlassare calls South Sudan’s suffering a “real-life Way of the Cross,” urging peace and healing amid deep wounds of violence.
Newsroom (03/04/2026 Gaudium Press ) In a nation where peace remains a fragile dream, Bishop Christian Carlassare of Bentiu sees his flock walking what he calls a “real-life Way of the Cross.” The Catholic prelate, who leads South Sudan’s newest diocese in the north of the country, says his people are bearing the weight of suffering, violence, and loss that has torn families and communities apart.
“Many hearts carry deep wounds,” Bishop Carlassare lamented in a message to OSV News on March 26. “And when wounds run so deep, the word ‘forgiveness’ can seem almost disrespectful, and the word ‘peace’ may appear fragile, distant—almost impossible. Yet it is precisely here, within these very wounds, that true peace can be born.”
His words come as South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, teeters on the edge of renewed conflict. As of March, aid agencies estimate 2.6 million people are internally displaced, while another 2.3 million have fled to neighboring countries. Political instability and intercommunal violence have rekindled fears of a return to full-scale war.
A Massacre and the Politics of Hatred
The human toll became painfully clear on March 2, when nearly 170 people were killed in a massacre in Abiemnhom County, within the Ruweng Administrative Area of Bishop Carlassare’s diocese. The attack, carried out by armed youths from neighboring Unity State, left scores wounded and families grieving.
The bishop attributed the violence to “prejudice, lack of dialogue, accumulated hatred, and political manipulation.” These forces, he said, have been inflamed by rising tensions among armed groups and renewed military mobilization by the government, especially in Jonglei State.
“In these operations, many communities were struck, tragically involving numerous civilians,” he noted, pointing out that humanitarian organizations were often barred from reaching those in need.
Earlier in March, South Sudan’s bishops issued a collective appeal demanding decisive government action, saying citizens were “weary of words without action.”
A Call for “Wild Peace”
Bishop Carlassare drew strength from the words of Pope Leo XIV, who during his 2025 Christmas Urbi et Orbi message urged the faithful to seek a “wild peace,” quoting the poet Yehuda Amichai: “Let peace come like wildflowers, suddenly, because the field must have it.”
The bishop echoed this vision, insisting that peace can only take root in wounded hearts willing to resist hatred. “Easter tells us the same,” he said. “Jesus did not avoid the Cross; He did not save the world by escaping violence, but by passing through it without being overcome by hatred.”
For Carlassare, this “wild peace” is not born at negotiating tables or secured by armed truces. It is, instead, a peace that “springs up spontaneously … the deep human longing that resists evil … because hope has not been lost.”
Building Hope on the Ground
Despite the hardship, Carlassare’s diocese remains steadfast in its mission. The Church continues to develop programs aimed at rebuilding lives, fostering community, and promoting self-reliance. Among recent efforts is a water project that now serves four parishes through wells equipped with solar and manual pumps and large storage tanks.
“Soon, we will reach other communities to ensure access to clean water,” Carlassare said. The diocese has also started constructing a primary school dedicated to St. Martin de Porres and plans an adjoining sports complex with fields for football, basketball, and volleyball—spaces meant for youth engagement and reconciliation.
Currently operating from temporary facilities with about 20 teachers, the school will serve as a cornerstone of hope for a new generation. With the onset of the rainy season, the diocese also plans to launch agricultural initiatives promoting self-sustainability and environmental stewardship.
In addition, programs to empower women are underway, including plans for a community bakery that will supply bread for students and nearby households.
Endurance and Faith Amid Uncertainty
As South Sudan grapples with its recurring cycles of violence, Bishop Carlassare’s words ring with both sorrow and defiance. He envisions faith not as a retreat from the Cross but as a way through it—a passage toward healing that refuses to let hatred prevail.
In the face of ongoing bloodshed, his call for “wild peace” stands as both prayer and challenge: that within the wounds of a nation, something new might take root.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from OSV News
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