“You are not alone”: Vatican Secretary of State Assures Victims of Terrorism, Cyclones in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado

Cabo Delgado, 10 December, 2025 / 8:03 AM

The Vatican Secretary of State has assured victims of terrorism and destructive cyclones in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado Province that they are not alone in their suffering, conveying the Holy Father’s message of closeness and the solidarity of the Universal Church as communities continue to endure violence, fear, and prolonged displacement.

Speaking on Monday, December 8 at St. Paul Cathedral of Pemba Catholic Diocese in Mozambique, Pietro Cardinal Parolin said the pain of Cabo Delgado has deeply touched the heart of the Church, as families continue to suffer from insurgency and the destruction left by powerful cyclones.

“I wanted to come to this beautiful land, in the name of the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, to encourage the Christian communities of Cabo Delgado, in these difficult times of violence and suffering, to place all their hope in Jesus, the Prince of Peace,” Cardinal Parolin said.

He continued, “I have come to tell you all journeying in Cabo Delgado, that you are not alone. The Holy Father and the entire Church, which is One and Universal, are with you.”

“Your sufferings, your fears and anxieties, but also your hopes, are in the heart of Mother Church and have a special place in the heart of the Successor of Peter,” the Vatican Cardinal said.

For him, “an eloquent proof of this is that the Pope recently invited four Catechists, from as early as September 16, to the Jubilee celebrations in Rome, as a sign of closeness and spiritual and pastoral encouragement.” 

“Your Priests, missionaries, religious, Catechists, and pastoral agents are called, like the prophet Isaiah, to be messengers of hope,” Cardinal Parolin said in reference to the theme of the ongoing Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year, “Pilgrims of Hope.”

During his visit to Mozambique’s Pemba Diocese, Cardinal Parolin met with displaced families living in reception centers, praising their resilience and unwavering faith despite hardship.

“Proclaim hope to people who have lost their families, their homes, and their belongings. To families forced to abandon their native villages, and to people who live with the pain of loss.” the 70-year-old Cardinal said.

He noted that “this hope in Jesus, the hope that does not disappoint, drives you to work together and to move forward, even amid insecurity.” 

Cardinal Parolin emphasized that “it is with this hope that you gather here in Pemba and fraternally share your experiences and heroic testimonies of faith.” 

“Many brothers and sisters remain faithful to Christ in these times of pain and trial, including those who were killed without denying the name of Jesus,” the Vatican Cardinal who arrived in Mozambique on December 5, said.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin also said that “it was hope and charity that drove them to act creatively,” while underlining the suffering and courage of the communities.”

He said, “In your pastoral planning, you encounter many obstacles due to insecurity and terrorism. At times, you are forced to cancel pastoral and spiritual activities, such as the pilgrimage to the Shrine of Mount Pois.”

“You, moved by hope and charity, seek with creativity new forms of pastoral care and spiritual assistance,” Cardinal Parolin said.

The Cardinal stated that “when one wants to heal an evil, there are always those who oppose it. This happens to me many times in our current world, marked by tensions, wars, and conflicts. However, the Church cannot yield to criticism or threats.” 

He noted that the Church “must always be a prophetic voice that denounces practices contrary to the dignity and rights of persons, while at the same time seeking to open paths of dialogue and understanding to overcome confrontation and division.”

“In Cabo Delgado, the demands of evangelization are arduous, the challenges immense, and the difficulties very serious. It is important that everyone, especially pastoral agents, be very united, work as a team, and cultivate communication and closeness,” Cardinal Parolin said.

He insisted that “communication will help to alert to possible dangers and to organize effective action plans in case of emergency. Communication and closeness will ensure that no one feels alone or isolated.” 

“May the wickedness of a few not triumph over the deep desire for harmony, coexistence, and unity of the great majority of people of goodwill. May Holy Mary, Star of Advent, Virgin of Hope, intercede before God for her beloved sons and daughters of Cabo Delgado,” Cardinal Parolin implored.