Pope Francis has appealed for peace in Cameroon, and called for the unconditional release of five priests, a nun and two Christians, abducted and taken on motorcycles to the bush on the border with Nigeria.
He made the appeal before leading the Angelus prayer this Sunday September 25th, at the conclusion of Holy Mass in the City of Matera, where he marked the end of the National Eucharistic congress.
The pope said he is thinking of Cameroon where the crisis rocking the English-Speaking Regions, has led to the kidnap of some Christians. He however called for their release.
“I join in the appeal of the bishops of Cameroon for the liberation of eight people kidnapped in the diocese of Mamfe, including five priests and a religious sister. Let’s Pray Together for them and for the peoples of Bamenda”.
He equally used the opportunity to pray for peace in Cameroon.
“I pray for them and for the populations of the ecclesiastical province of Bamenda: may the Lord give peace to hearts and to the social life of that dear country.”
The priests and the religious sister were reportedly kidnapped by unknown assailants who set fire to a church on Friday in western Cameroon.
This was announced in a statement by the bishops of the ecclesiastical province of Bamenda.
The Pope equally prayed for other countries like Myanmar where “for more than two years that noble country has been martyred by serious armed clashes and violence, which have caused many victims and displaced persons.”
The Pope also reiterated his concern and closeness with the people of Ukraine and called for solutions to the seven-month war.
He invoked the Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, to comfort the “martyred Ukrainian people” and appealed for action from international leaders, that they may find “the strength of will immediately to find effective initiatives to bring the war to an end.”
The Vatican has however on several occasions called for a ceasefire from both the Cameroon Army and belligerent groups and urged them to prioritize a peaceful path in solving their differences.
on January 28, 2021, Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin met H.E. Paul Biya, President of Cameroon. Both men discussed the possibility of bringing reconciliation and peace to the restive minority Anglophone regions, which has been a major concern for the Pope.