Pope Francis has prayed for Nigerians and thousands of lives across the world who were shattered by violence and war in 2023.
The Vatican News reports that Pope Francis after the Angelus prayer on Sunday, December 31, 2023, appealed to those who, according to him, have a “stake” in armed conflicts to “listen to the voice of their conscience”.
The Pope was quoted as saying, “At the end of the year, let us have the courage to ask ourselves: “How many lives have been shattered by armed conflict? How many deaths? And how much destruction, how much suffering… how much poverty!”
The cleric made the appeal following his sad reflection on 2023, which was blighted by violence, death, destruction and displacement.
Pope Francis recalled the sad Christmas celebration in Nigeria’s Plateau State where over 140 people were killed and scores more injured on Christmas Eve in communal violence.
He said, “Sadly, the celebration of Christmas in Nigeria was marked by serious violence, in Plateau state, with many victims. I pray for them and their families: May God deliver Nigeria from these horrors.”
His thoughts and assurances of closeness and prayer also went to “those who lost their lives in the fuel truck explosion in Liberia,” where 52 people died after a fuel tanker crashed and exploded on Tuesday near the capital, Monrovia. Many injured people remain in hospital in critical condition.
He also prayed for those suffering from wars and called for prayers for “the tormented Ukrainian people, the Palestinian and Israeli people, the Sudanese people and many others.”
“And let us not forget the martyred Rohingya,” he added.