Vatican, 19 February, 2024 / 9:00 pm (ACI Africa).
Pope Francis is appealing for spiritual solidarity with the people of God in Sudan and Mozambique following protracted violent conflicts in the two African nations.
The ongoing war in Sudan between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) that broke out on 14 April 2023 has led to the reported displacement of over 7.1 million people.
In the Southern African nation of Mozambique, insurgents have reportedly staged a series of attacks in Macimboa da Praia since the beginning of January, plunging civilians in the wider Cabo Delgado Province, which experienced its first insurgent attack in October 2017, into deeper despair.
“Let us pray without getting tired because prayer is effective, and we ask the Lord for the gift of minds and hearts that are concretely dedicated to peace,” Pope Francis said during his traditional Sunday appearance to the public in Vatican’s St. Peter’s Square on February 18.
He added, “Let's not forget: war is always a defeat. Wherever there is fighting, the populations are exhausted, they are tired of the war, which as always is useless and inconclusive, and will only bring death, only destruction, and will never bring the solution to the problems.”
