Pope seeks divine peace for Nigeria

Nigeria was among the nations that Pope
Francis prayed for yesterday in his “Urbi
et Orbi’ Christmas Day message, which
he delivered in Italian from the central
balcony of St.
He also prayed for other parts of the
African continent, charging political
leaders to promote lasting fraternal
coexistence. He also prayed for children
who are victims of violence, trafficking as
well as all victims of the deadly Ebola
virus.
“May Christ the Savior give peace to
Nigeria, where (even in these hours) more
blood is being shed and too many people
are unjustly deprived of their possessions,
held as hostages or killed,” the Pontiff
prayed.
“I invoke peace also on the other parts of
the African continent, thinking especially
of Libya, South Sudan, the Central African
Republic, and various regions of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo. I
beseech all who have political
responsibility to commit themselves
through dialogue to overcoming
differences and to building a lasting,
fraternal coexistence.
“May Jesus save the vast numbers of
children who are victims of violence,
made objects of trade and trafficking, or
forced to become soldiers; children, so
many abused children. May he give
comfort to the families of the children
killed in Pakistan last week.
“May he be close to all who suffer from
illness, especially the victims of the Ebola
epidemic, above all in Liberia, in Sierra
Leone and in Guinea. As I thank all who
are courageously dedicated to assisting
the sick and their family members, I once
more make an urgent appeal that the
necessary assistance and treatment be
provided.
His blessing yesterday included hope for
peaceful resolutions of other conflicts
around the world. He prayed for
reconciliation in Ukraine. He condemned
Islamic State fighters who have killed or
displaced Shi’ite Muslims, Christians and
others in Syria and Iraq who do not share
the group’s ideologies.
“I ask him, the savior of the world, to look
upon our brothers and sisters in Iraq and
Syria, who for too long now have suffered
the effects of ongoing conflict, and who,
together with those belonging to other
ethnic and religious groups, are suffering
a brutal persecution,” he said.
The pontiff appealed for compassion for
refugees “so that all who now are
suffering may receive the necessary
humanitarian help to overcome the rigors
of winter.” Tens of thousands gathered
yesterday in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican
City to hear the pontiff’s blessing, which is
customarily global in nature. “Urbi et
Orbi” is Latin, meaning “to the city
(Rome) and to the world.”
The message comes a day after Francis
delivered his second midnight Mass as
Pope. The Pope has used his influence as
the spiritual leader of all Catholics around
the world to affect political outcomes this
year. He played a key role in a historic
breakthrough in U.S.-Cuba relations this
month and urged religious tolerance
during a visit to Turkey in November.