Pope prays for peace in the Sahel after jihadist attacks

Speaking to a delegation from Senegal, Leo said Christians and Muslims have a shared responsibility to ‘reject any exploitation of God’s name for military, economic or political ends’. 

The Pope voiced “deep concern” about violence in the Sahel after a series of terrorist attacks in Chad and Mali.

More than 20 Chadian soldiers died in an attack by Boko Haram on 4 May, according to Agenzia Fides, and 11 died in fighting with terrorists near Lake Chad two days later. Chadian airstrikes on Boko Haram targets beginning on 8 May also killed dozens of fishermen.

“I offer the assurance of my heartfelt prayers for the victims and my spiritual closeness to all those who are suffering as a result of the tragic events,” Pope Leo said after the Regina Caeli in St Peter’s Square on Sunday. “I fervently hope that every form of violence may cease, and I encourage all efforts aimed at fostering peace and development in that beloved land.” 

The previous day he had addressed the directors of the John Paul II Foundation for the Sahel, urging them to cooperate with the Holy See to “contribute to the respect and promotion of the inalienable human dignity of the peoples of the Sahel, through projects of integral human development”. 

John Paul II launched the foundation in 1984 to respond to drought and desertification in the region. In February it adopted new statutes, which Leo said gave it “a new form in the continuity of its mission”.

“In a world facing complex challenges such as geopolitical tensions, inequalities, wars, issues linked to insecurity and terrorism, political and economic instability, and climate crises – the consequences of which include, in particular, migration flows – the relevance of this foundation’s mission is clearer than ever,” he said.

“Through its primary aim, it contributes to God’s work, to the protection of our ‘common home’, and highlights your social responsibility.”

Pope Leo told a delegation of Senegalese Muslim leaders that their country’s spirit of teranga and interreligious dialogue are “a valuable means of easing tensions and building lasting peace” in the Sahel during an audience in Rome on 9 May. Senegal is known as the land of teranga, meaning hospitality and solidarity. 

Thanking the delegation for their efforts to foster interreligious dialogue, the Pope said Christians and Muslims have a shared responsibility to condemn discrimination and persecution based on race, religion or origin and to “reject any exploitation of God’s name for military, economic or political ends”. 

He said Africa’s armed conflicts have caused serious humanitarian crises including the repeated displacement of migrants and refugees, “hate speech that poisons the social fabric”, and the “worrying rise of violent extremism”.

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