On Sunday, Pope Leo offered prayers for the victims of what he called a “terrible massacre” in Benue State, Nigeria.
Reports indicate that over 200 people were brutally killed in the Yelewata community of Guma Local Government Area, marking one of the deadliest recent attacks by suspected herdsmen in the region.
During his Sunday Angelus address, the Pope noted that many of the victims were internally displaced persons (IDPs) who had taken refuge at a local Catholic mission, describing the tragedy as especially heartbreaking.
“I am praying for security, justice, and peace in Nigeria,” Pope Leo said from St. Peter’s Square.
“In a special way, I am thinking of the rural Christian communities of Benue State, who have been relentless victims of violence.”
