For several years we, the Christian Community in this Archdiocese have been preparing ourselves for this Great Jubilee. We opened our minds and hearts to the call of the Jubilee, particularly to the call for personal and community conversion, and for a decisive return to God and to all our Brothers and Sisters.

We know well that we are celebrating the Jubilee in bad times. Our country is at war with itself. Many of our people are displaced either internally or into neighbouring countries. Thousands of people suffer from poverty, and hunger. Many have suffered unjustly and died for crimes they never committed. Many are homeless. Many have no access to basic services like education and medical care. Many are deprived of the freedom to live according to their culture and religion. And there is a heavy atmosphere of violence, cruelty, hatred, resentment, anger, and mistrust overshadowing the whole country and its citizens, and pervading all the space we live in. We readily and often without justifiable reasons brand one another as enemies.

The sad situation we have tried to describe has not come of itself. If has originated from us and in some cases institutionalized by our leaders. It is therefore our joint responsibility to put an end to this sad unacceptable situation of human suffering and degradation.

Whereas the Great Jubilee calls us to renewal and conversion, that is, to a change of life.
Whereas the Lord commanded us: -“Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” And also: - “Love your enemies and pray fro those who persecute you, so that you may become the sons of your Father in heaven.”
Whereas the Lord, while he was being crucified, said: - “Forgive them, Father! They don’t know what they are doing.”
And he taught us to pray: -“Forgive us our trespasses as wee forgive those who trespass against us.”

We, the Christians in this Archdiocese, today solemnly declare before all the Sudanese People, Christians and non-Christians alike:

1 - We, as individual Christians and Communities of Christians, openly and without reserve, forgive from our hearts, all those who have done us wrong. We extend this forgiveness to all without exception. We declare that we will make effort to translate this forgiveness into acts and attitudes of forgiveness, reconciliation, love and brotherhood.

To each and everyone we say: “We forgive you, Brother! We forgive you, Sister!”

2 - Fully aware that we ourselves have been responsible for many of the wrongs and evils that have befallen our Brothers and Sisters, we now sincerely and humbly ask pardon from all those whom  we have wronged in thought, in word, and in action.

With one voice we beg each and everyone: “Forgive us Brothers! Forgive us Sisters.”

We implore Almighty God to support us in our effort to transform the Sudan into a land in which all are Brothers and Sisters to one another. Throughout this Great Jubilee we will intensify our prayers that the Sudanese people may one more live in peace, unity and happiness. May our army tanks be turned into tractors, our guns into hoes, and may the resources we waste on war be turned into resources for basic services for human promotion.

May the Peace announced at the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, descend upon us and stay with us always.