The Italian Bishop-elect of Rumbek Catholic Diocese Fr. Christian Carlassare has fully recovered and taken up his duties after getting shot in the foot in May.

Although Fr. Carlassare is not yet in the country, he was seen preaching and stood on his feet in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. 

“Fr. Christian Carlassare is still in Nairobi, he is recovered fully and doing well, and as a man of God definitely he will always give the word of God to his people,” said Father Andrea Osman.

However, Fr. Osman did not reveal when the bishop will be back in South Sudan.

But someone who spoke to City Review anonymously told City Review that Carlassare is doing well but said he will be travelling to the Vatican before he decides to go back to South Sudan or remain there.

“Last week, South Sudanese here in Nairobi organized welfare prayers for him, where he also preached, and he even told clearly that he was expected to travel to Italy,” the anonymous person revealed.

Carlassare, an Italian Comboni priest, sustained gunshot wounds in both legs during an attack on his residence at around 1am on April 25, 2021.

His attack

He was immediately rushed to the Rumbek Hospital where he got his first treatment before he was taken to Nairobi where he is currently being treated.

The authorities in Lakes State, Rumbek later announced the arrest of over 25 suspects in connection with the shooting, including senior church officials.

In the same month, a high level delegation of security personnel from Juba left to Lakes State, Rumbek to investigate the incident.

After their arrival back to Juba, the Acting and Deputy Spokesperson for South Sudan National Police Col. James Dak Karlo said the incident was planned by a group which he did not mention.

“We reached the scene where the incident happened and we discovered that the incident was a conspiracy and well-organized crime with an intention to harm the bishop,” the spokesman said.

He added that the incident happened “because within the compound there are about seven rooms and the rooms for bishop is towards the end. How did the attackers identify where the bishop was yet there were other priests in rooms 1, 2, 3 until bishop’s room?” one of the local newspapers quoted Mr. Karlo.

Forgiveness

Bishop-elect Carlassare, reportedly said that he has forgiven his attackers and called for kindness and reconciliation in Lakes state diocese.

“I take this chance to greet all of you my brothers and sister in Rumbek I want you to be at peace to know that I am well here in hospital (Nairobi) and been taken care and am improving,” shot Bishop-elect Fr. Carlassare encourages from hospital in Nairobi.

He added, ‘‘It will take some time to my legs to be able to walk again but I assure you that I will be back and I will be with you,” he added.

The cleric further called on his fellow Christian and public special in Lakes State, Rumbek, to come together and unite, reconcile and forgives one another for the betterment of the country.

“Please let us be united in prayers, let us be united with all our hearts, let us promote forgiveness to enable to seek for justice with the heart of God which is mercifully heart, the heart that can preach peace, mercy to any person,”

“I see the values of unite, forgiveness present in each one of us, although I am far from you, but I feel united to you and also be untied with me in this process of reconciliation.”  

The Italian-born Comboni Missionary Cleric was appointed Bishop for Rumbek Diocese March 8. His episcopal ordination was scheduled to take place on Pentecost Sunday, May 23.

He had been serving in South Sudan’s Malakal Diocese since he arrived in the East-Central African country in 2005

He traveled to Rumbek Diocese April 15 following days of spiritual retreat in South Sudan’s capital, Juba.

Rumbek Diocese became vacant in July 2011 following the sudden death of Bishop Caesar Mazzolari. The Comboni Missionary Bishop collapsed during the celebration of Holy Eucharist on the morning of 16 July 2011, one week after South Sudan’s independence, and was confirmed dead at the Rumbek State Hospital that morning.