Vatican, 25 August, 2025 / 10:00 pm (ACI Africa).
Pope Leo XIV has expressed his closeness with victims of violence in Mozambique, praying for the end of the war that has left thousands dead and hundreds of thousands internally displaced and in a worsening humanitarian crisis.
In his address during the Sunday, August 24 Angelus, the Holy Father expressed concern that violence, especially in Mozambique’s Northern province, Cabo Delgado, has continued to cause death and displacement, and appealed to the international community not to forget the plight of those suffering in the Southern African country.
“Dear brothers and sisters, I express my closeness to the people of Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, who have become victims of an unsecure and violent situation that continues to cause death and displacement,” Pope Leo XIV said.
He added, “In asking you not to forget these brothers and sisters of ours, I invite you to pray for them, and I express my hope that the efforts of the country’s leaders will succeed in restoring security and peace in that territory.”
Insurgency in Mozambique’s Northern province of Cabo Delgado is linked to the Al-Shabaab, a militant group that has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. Since 2017, the insurgency has reportedly resulted in over 6,100 deaths and displaced over 716,000 people.
