A retired and influential Catholic priest has criticised what he sees as a poor calibre of priests in neighbouring South Sudan.

“I don’t want stupid priests in the church,” said Cardinal Gabriel Zubeir Wako, the Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Khartoum, during a visit to north-western city of Wau.

“During the days I have spent here in Wau, I have been meeting priests and I have noticed that most of them don’t know the liturgy of the church, they have shallow teaching of the church. They must upgrade their standards,” Archbishop Wako said at an event to consecrate the city’s new bishop.

The retired priest, who turns 80-years next month, is recognised and credited for his commitment to education.

He was honoured by the government of South Sudan in 2016 for having educated more than two million children displaced by conflict in southern Sudan.

He also sent many priests for further studies in Rome and in Kenya, for masters and a doctorate.

Amongst those he sent for further studies are his immediate successor Archbishop Dr Michael Didi, the current Archbishop of Khartoum, and the current Archbishop of Juba, Dr Stephen Ameyu.

Cardinal Wako also urged priests to upgrade their standards “morally and intellectually” in order to serve the church and the society effectively.

Source: BBC