Juba, South Sudan,
July 04, 2021 – Italian cleric Fr. Christian Carlassare is reportedly seeking a return to the Vatican, a confidential source has told Nyamilepedia.
Carlassare, an Italian Comboni priest, sustained gunshot wounds in both legs during an attack on his residence at around 1 am on 25th, April 2021 in Rumbek where he was to serve as a bishop at a local diocese.
Fr. Andrea Osman from Rumbek Diocese said Carlassare who was flown to the Kenyan capital Nairobi for treatment has fully recovered and resumed his missionary duties but was still in Nairobi.
“Yes, the bishop-elect of Rumbek Catholic Diocese Fr. Christian Carlassare is yet 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 Osman without stating when the bishop will return to South Sudan.
However, a source who spoke to Nyamilepedia anonymously said Carlassare will be traveling to the Vatican where he will decide whether to return to South Sudan or remain in Italy.
“I saw him [Fr. Carlassare] last week when 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,” said the source.
Fr. Carlassare was pictured on his feet preaching to a faith-based group in a scene that confirms his recovery from the injuries he sustained from Rumbek.
The attempted murder of the bishop-elect in April sparked outrage across South Sudan and prompted authorities to launch investigations into the incident.
Authorities in Rumbek of Lakes State later announced that at least 25 suspects were arrested in connection with the incident.
Within the same month, a high-level delegation of security personnel from Juba left to Lakes State, on a fact-finding mission.
Acting and Deputy Spokesperson for South Sudan National Police Service Col. James Dak Karlo said the incident was a conspiracy that also involved some senior members of the church.
