By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
Pope Francis has prayed for the thousands of lives shattered by violence and war in 2023 across the globe and appeals to those who have a “stake“ in armed conflicts to listen to the voice of their conscience.
Pope Francis uttered this poignant invitation to all men and women of goodwill after the Angelus prayer on Sunday 31 December 2023, calling on those who have interests in play in armed conflicts across the world to “listen to the voice of their conscience.”
He recalled the sad Christmas celebrations in Nigeria’s Plateau state where over 140 people were killed and scores more injured on Christmas Eve in communal violence.
At the end of the year, let us have the courage to ask ourselves: “How many lives have been shattered by armed conflict? How many deaths? And how much destruction, how much suffering, how much poverty”
The Pope’s appeal followed his sad reflection on a year blighted by violence, death, destruction and displacement.