Pope Leo on Sunday offered heartfelt prayers for the victims of a “terrible massacre” in Benue State, Nigeria, where over 200 people were reportedly slaughtered in a brutal attack linked to suspected herdsmen.
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During his Sunday Angelus at St. Peter’s Square, the pontiff expressed deep sorrow over the killings in Yelewata, a community in Guma Local Government Area. He said many of the victims were internally displaced persons (IDPs) who had been taking shelter in a local Catholic mission at the time of the attack.
“I am praying for security, justice, and peace in Nigeria,” Pope Leo declared. “In a special way, I am thinking of the rural Christian communities of Benue State, who have been relentless victims of violence.”
The massacre, which occurred overnight between June 13 and 14, has drawn widespread condemnation and renewed global concern about the escalating violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region.
In a separate statement, Amnesty International Nigeria called on authorities to act swiftly: “The Nigerian government must immediately end the almost daily bloodshed in Benue State and bring the actual perpetrators to justice.”
Turning his attention to other global crises, Pope Leo also mourned the death of Rev. Luke Jumu, parish priest of El Fasher in Sudan, who was reportedly killed in a recent bombing amid the country’s ongoing civil war.
“While I offer my prayers for him and for all the victims,” he said, “I renew my appeal to the combatants to stop, to protect civilians, and to embark on a path of dialogue for peace.”
He also called on the international community to intensify humanitarian assistance to civilians “severely affected” by the conflict.
Pope Leo extended his prayers to regions facing heightened conflict, including the Middle East — where tensions between Israel and Iran have escalated — as well as Ukraine and Myanmar.
In Myanmar, despite a temporary ceasefire, hostilities have continued. The Pope urged combatants to “take the path of inclusive dialogue,” which he said remains the only way toward a peaceful and stable resolution.
The Pope also remembered Floribert Bwana Chui, a Congolese border officer martyred in 2007 for refusing to allow the entry of contaminated rice into the country. Chui, who was killed for standing against corruption and defending the poor, was beatified later on Sunday.
“As a Christian, he opposed injustice and defended the little ones and the poor,” Pope Leo said, expressing hope that Chui’s legacy would inspire the youth of Congo and Africa at large.
Before concluding, Pope Leo addressed pilgrims attending the Jubilee of Sport in Rome, describing sports as “a school of respect and fairness” and “a path to peace, encounter, and fraternity.”
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