Pope Francis has condemned the violent attacks on a Catholic church and a mosque in Burkina Faso, which resulted in numerous deaths and injuries.
The violence occurred in Essakane, where 15 worshippers were killed at a church, and in Natiaboani, where a mosque attack claimed many lives.
In a telegram delivered by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, Pope Francis expressed his deep sorrow and offered condolences.
The pontiff said “hatred is not the solution to conflicts,” advocating for peace as the path forward.
The message sent to Bishop Laurent Dabiré of the Bishops’ Conference of Burkina Faso and Niger, expressed the Pope’s solidarity with the victims and their families.
“I pray for the repose of the deceased, entrusting them to God’s mercy, and for the healing of the injured,” said Pope Francis.
Pope Francis also called attention to the respect for sacred places and urged efforts to “fight against violence to promote the values of peace.”
He invoked “divine blessings for the sons and daughters of Burkina Faso and the nation as a whole.”
