Thousands of Christians gathered in South Sudan’s Unity State on Sunday to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Catholic Church’s presence in the area. The first Catholic mission in the area was established in 1925 by missionaries in Yoanyang village, Rubkona County.
Last year, the late Pope Francis elevated Bentiu’s Catholic community—previously part of the Malakal Diocese—to a full diocese.
Speaking at the event in Bentiu on Sunday, South Sudan’s Vice President for Infrastructure, Taban Deng Gai, urged citizens to reject violence and focus on national development.
“President Salva Kiir has declared that our remaining war is the war of development—building roads, schools, and hospitals,” Gai said.
“This is a fight we must all join. We must combat corruption, allocate resources wisely, and improve lives through infrastructure and services,” he added.
Unity State Governor Riek Bim Top praised the church’s role in education, health care, and peacebuilding.
“The Bentiu Diocese has been an essential partner in fostering social development and reconciliation,” Top said. “As a government, we remain committed to working with the church to serve our people.”
The Sunday Mass at Yoanyang Cathedral was led by Archbishop Seamus Patrick Horgan, the Vatican’s ambassador to South Sudan.