Archbishop pays tribute to Archbishop Emeritus Paolino Lukudu Loro

06/04/2021

Archbishop Justin Welby has paid tribute to Roman Catholic Archbishop Emeritus Loro who has died at the age of 81. 

South Sudanese Council of Churches

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said today:

"It is with profound sadness that I received the news of the death of Roman Catholic Archbishop Emeritus Paolino Lukudu Loro. Over the past few years, I have worked closely with Archbishop Paolino and other South Sudanese leaders on the issue of peace and reconciliation in South Sudan. I have valued his wisdom, humility and courage in all our engagements. I vividly remember his contributions at the 2019 Vatican spiritual retreat and his visit to Lambeth Palace in 2016, together with other South Sudanese leaders under the auspices of the South Sudan Council of Churches.

"As well as peace and reconciliation, Archbishop Paolino made significant contributions to ecumenical and inter-faith engagement in South Sudan and Sudan. It is with this in mind that I contacted him this year to inform him that he was to receive a Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation for 2021. Sadly, he died before receiving the award. His was a shining example of reconciliation in action. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and the Church in South Sudan.

"May Archbishop Paolino rest in peace and rise in glory."

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