Sudan Relief Fund is honored to partner with Bishop Christian Carlassare of the Bentiu Diocese. In a recent Q & A, the Bishop shared his faith journey with us, from growing up in rural Italy to where he serves today in Bentiu, in the northern region of South Sudan.
Early Years
Shaped by the daily common prayers shared with his mother, and a sacred heart image belonging to his grandmother, Bishop Christian Carlassare knew from his childhood he felt drawn to a life of serving God.
He was also deeply influenced by the brother of his great grandmother, a missionary priest in Ecuador. His service to the most neglected and marginalized left a lasting impression upon him. A visit to Assisi and a meeting with the Comboni Missionaries during his adolescence cemented this path in his heart.
Education
In 1994 he began his seminary studies. Bishop Carlassare earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in 2003, and Bachelor’s Degree in Missiology from the Pontifical Urban University in 2004. He took his vows as a Comboni Missionary in 2003 in Rome, and was ordained a priest in September of 2004.
Serving in South Sudan
In 2006 Carlassare began his journey in service to the people of South Sudan. He became Vicar in the Holy Trinity Parish of Old Fangak County. For the next fifteen years he served in numerous offices throughout the country, including Vicar General in Malakal Diocese.
Then in March 2021 he was appointed Bishop of Rumbek by Pope Francis. At age 44, it made him the youngest Italian Bishop in the Catholic Church at the time.
Terror and Miracles
Shortly after assuming his new role in Rumbek, terror struck. Gunmen broke into his house at night and shot the Bishop several times in the legs. There was speculation of a targeted assault. He credits God that he was not mortally injured, saying “God really blessed me. He protected me from worse injuries.”
Perhaps as incredible as escaping with his life was the Bishop’s determination to return. Following hospitalization in Nairobi, and months spent in Italy rehabilitating his legs, Bishop Carlassare came back to serve at his post as Bishop of Rumbek.
He said his return was a demonstration of reconciliation, forgiveness, and new beginnings – a message he hopes to promote throughout the divided nation.
“I clearly could not turn my back to this call,” he said,”…and abandon the sheep when witnessing Christ becomes demanding. Only the cross can heal the wounds provoked by evil when it is carried with love.”
An Agent of Reconciliation
A personal example of this commitment was seen in the Bishop’s trek in 2023. Despite having just recovered from extensive leg injuries, the Bishop led a group of 60 young people and 24 adults in a walk of 250 miles over nine days, to meet Pope Francis during the pope’s historic visit to South Sudan.
The Bishop referred to the journey as a “Walk for Peace,” noting how the young people who stopped and interacted with villagers along the way were writing a new chapter toward reconciliation for the country.
“People responded by joining us…walking together…hundreds if not thousands of people who felt like we need to join together…It was a powerful encouragement and hope for them.”
New Challenges and Opportunities
In July of 2024, Pope Francis established the Diocese of Bentiu in Unity State, appointing Carlassare as Bishop of the new Diocese. The Bishop began his service in Bentiu in August, following a reception in Juba, South Sudan’s capital city.
Bishop Carlassare notes that his greatest challenge is trying to be a bond of reconciliation in a violent and divisive society. “Conflict and unjust poverty paralyze people and their aspirations, seriously cripple hope and the capacity to build a more human and fraternal society.”
He nevertheless embraces his new assignment in Bentiu, a Diocese in the northern region of South Sudan.
“I find it exciting to share in the poverty and challenges the people of Bentiu are encountering,” he said, “and at the same time to [take] the first steps together to build up a community that – strengthened by faith – can be a source of transformation for the country.”
