In a heartfelt plea during the Sunday Angelus on June 15, Pope Leo called for peace and justice across multiple global conflict zones, with particular attention to the “terrible massacre” in Nigeria’s Benue State. Around 200 people—many of them internally displaced persons “sheltered by the local Catholic mission”—were “brutally killed” in Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area, on the night of June 13–14, according to Vatican News.
“Security, justice, and peace” are desperately needed in Nigeria, Pope Leo prayed, expressing solidarity with “the rural Christian communities of the Benue State who have been relentless victims of violence.” Amnesty International Nigeria also condemned the bloodshed, calling on authorities to “immediately end the almost daily bloodshed” and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The Pope’s prayers extended to Sudan, where civil war continues to claim innocent lives. He acknowledged the death of Rev. Luke Jumu, a parish priest in El Fasher reportedly killed in a bombing. “While I offer my prayers for him and for all the victims,” Pope Leo said, “I renew my appeal to the combatants to stop, to protect civilians, and to embark on a path of dialogue for peace.” He also urged the international community to “intensify” humanitarian support to those affected.
From the Middle East, where conflict has erupted between Israel and Iran, to war-torn Ukraine and Myanmar—where violence persists despite a recent ceasefire—Pope Leo repeated his call for “inclusive dialogue,” which he emphasized is “the only one that can lead to a peaceful and stable resolution.”
The Holy Father also praised the witness of Floribert Bwana Chui, a young Congolese border guard martyred in 2007 for refusing to allow the import of spoiled rice that would have endangered public health. “As a Christian, he opposed injustice and defended the little ones and the poor,” Pope Leo said. Scheduled for beatification later that day, Chui was presented as a model of courage for “the youth of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and of all Africa.”
Before his appeals for peace, Pope Leo addressed the faithful gathered in Rome for the Jubilee of Sport. “Sport is a school of respect and fairness,” he said, describing it as “a path to peace, … encounter, and fraternity.”
As conflict and injustice continue to plague many corners of the world, Pope Leo’s message to the global Catholic faithful remains clear: peace begins with prayer, justice requires courage, and both demand solidarity with the most vulnerable.
