Pope Prays for Victims of ‘Terrible Massacre’ in Nigeria’s Benue State

Vatican City, 15 June, 2025 - Pope Leo has offered prayers for victims of a brutal attack in Benue State, Nigeria, during his Sunday Angelus, extending his thoughts also to those suffering in Sudan, Myanmar, Ukraine, and the Middle East.

Addressing pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope referred to a “terrible massacre” that occurred in Yelwata, located in the Guma Local Government Area of Benue State. Approximately 200 people were “brutally killed” during the night of 13th to 14th June—most of them internally displaced persons who had found refuge at a local Catholic mission.

The Pope prayed for “security, justice, and peace” in Nigeria, highlighting the plight of rural Christian communities in Benue who, he said, have been “relentless victims of violence”.

Reacting to the attack, Amnesty International Nigeria urged the country’s authorities on Saturday to end the “almost daily bloodshed” in Benue and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Turning his focus to Sudan, Pope Leo lamented the ongoing civil war and mourned the death of Luke Jumu, the parish priest of El Fasher in the country’s southwest, reportedly killed in a recent bombing.

“While I offer my prayers for him and all the victims,” the Pope 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 efforts in delivering humanitarian aid to the crisis-stricken population.

The Holy Father extended his prayers to regions in conflict, including the Middle East—where hostilities between Israel and Iran continue to escalate—as well as Ukraine and Myanmar.

Despite a recent temporary ceasefire in Myanmar, Pope Leo noted that violence has persisted. He urged all parties to commit to “the path of inclusive dialogue”, calling it the only route to a “peaceful and stable resolution”.

In a separate appeal, Pope Leo paid tribute to Floribert Bwana Chui, a Congolese border guard martyred in 2007 for refusing to allow a shipment of spoiled rice into the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Chui, who was murdered for his stance, “opposed injustice and defended the little ones and the poor,” said the Pope.

As Chui was due to be beatified later the same day, Pope Leo expressed hope that his witness would inspire “courage and hope to the youth of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and of all Africa”.

The Pope’s remarks followed a Mass for the Jubilee of Sport. He greeted pilgrims who had travelled to Rome for the occasion, describing them as “athletes of every age and from every background”. Emphasising that sport is “a school of respect and fairness”, he called it “a path to peace, encounter, and fraternity”.

Courtesy: Vatican News