“Fight violence with weapons given by God, Rosary, Holy Mass, Prayer”: Cameroonian Prelate

Bishop Nkuo explained the importance of the Rosary in the spiritual lives of Catholics saying, “It is the hallmark of Catholics.” 

For us Catholics, the 67-year-old Bishop said, “The Rosary is our powerful weapon, not a magic weapon. The Rosary is a Prayer. It lies at the heart of who we are as Catholics and as Catholics, we know the Rosary is the most powerful recitation we can make when we want a miracle or any other grace from God.” 

Citing Pope Pius XI, Bishop Nkuo highlighted the importance of praying the Rosary in difficult situations saying, “There is no problem, even what we have right now, that we cannot solve by the prayer of the Rosary.”

Prior to the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, Bishop Nkuo had spearheaded a peaceful march for peace in the troubled regions involving people from various walks of life in Cameroon’s Kumbo Diocese. 

Conducted under the theme, “March for Peace,” the Bishop Nkuo-led initiative saw Catholics recite the Rosary, asking for God’s intervention for peace to return in Kumbo, which is located within the North west region of Cameroon. 

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It is one of the towns that has been badly affected by the four-year crisis that started after a protest by lawyers and teachers turned violent. 

In February, military personnel invaded a village located within the Diocese of Kumbo leaving 24 civilians, including children, dead and hundreds displaced.

In calling for peace in the region during his October 20 homily, Bishop Nkuo also stressed the importance of “non-violence”. 

“We will be able to overcome all the evil in the world if you and I, begin today, to love one another,” he said and added, “We must fight violence with weapons of truth, love and peace.”

He continued, “We are here, Catholics, Muslims and Protestants because we are children of God and we are reminded that non-violence can sometimes mean that we are weak and that we surrender but that is not the case,”

Making reference to Mother Theresa of Calcutta’s speech when she received the Nobel Peace Prize, Bishop Nkuo said, “We in our family do not need bombs and guns to destroy, to make peace. We just get together and love one another.”

Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.