Pope Francis has prayed for an end to the persecution of Christians
in his Easter Sunday address commemorating the students massacred by
Al-Shabab militants at Garissa University in Kenya.
Attacks on Christians in Africa and the Middle East have been the grim backdrop of all Holy Week ceremonies leading up to Easter.
“We ask Jesus, the victor over death to lighten the sufferings of our many brothers and sisters who are persecuted for his name, and of all those who suffer injustice as a result of ongoing conflicts and violence – and there are many,” he said. Francis, after mass for thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square, delivered a grim “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) message.
He also prayed for all who have been kidnapped and for those forced to abandon their homes and their dear ones in attacks by Boko Haram in Nigeria.
The pontiff appealed for an end to violence in hotspots around the world, saying the international community must confront the humanitarian tragedy in Syria and Iraq. The pope spoke as churches in Kenya, where al Shabaab gunmen massacred 150 people, singling out Christians for point-blank executions, turned to armed guards to protect their congregations on the most important day of the Christian liturgical year.
“My constant prayers rise up from all people of goodwill for those who lost their lives – I think in particular of the young people who were killed last Thursday at Garissa University College in Kenya,” he said.
Attacks on Christians in Africa and the Middle East have been the grim backdrop of all Holy Week ceremonies leading up to Easter.
“We ask Jesus, the victor over death to lighten the sufferings of our many brothers and sisters who are persecuted for his name, and of all those who suffer injustice as a result of ongoing conflicts and violence – and there are many,” he said. Francis, after mass for thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square, delivered a grim “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) message.
He also prayed for all who have been kidnapped and for those forced to abandon their homes and their dear ones in attacks by Boko Haram in Nigeria.
The pontiff appealed for an end to violence in hotspots around the world, saying the international community must confront the humanitarian tragedy in Syria and Iraq. The pope spoke as churches in Kenya, where al Shabaab gunmen massacred 150 people, singling out Christians for point-blank executions, turned to armed guards to protect their congregations on the most important day of the Christian liturgical year.
“My constant prayers rise up from all people of goodwill for those who lost their lives – I think in particular of the young people who were killed last Thursday at Garissa University College in Kenya,” he said.
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