Bishop Congratulates New South Sudan Primate

The Bishop of Salisbury has congratulated and asked for prayers for the Rt Revd Justin Badi who as elected Primate of South Sudan earlier today.

The Rt Revd Justin Badi, currently Bishop of Maridi, was elected at a meeting of bishops and clergy and lay representatives of the Episcopal Church in South Sudan.

As well as being one of the leading churchpeople of the Anglican Communion, the Primate of South Sudan has a vital leadership role in a country enduring civil war and hunger and where the churches are some of the strongest social institutions capable of uniting people from different political and ethnic groups.

The Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam, Bishop of Salisbury, said,  “A new chapter in the life of the Episcopal Church of the South Sudan will open following the election of the new Primate of South Sudan, the Rt Revd Justin Badi, currently Bishop of Maridi. We in the Diocese of Salisbury send him our congratulations and pray for the forty-five-year relationship between Salisbury and South Sudan, to which there is such strong commitment, and which has so much more potential.

“We have been praying this week for those who gathered for the election of the new Primate and for the candidates.

“We now pray that God will bless Bishop Justin as he takes on this role as Archbishop and Primate of the ECSS. May he bring peace and unity and strengthen the bonds of affection with the wider Anglican Communion.”