Johannesburg, 09 June, 2022 / 9:00 pm (ACI Africa).
Catholic Bishops in Southern Africa have expressed their solidarity with the people of God of Ondo Diocese in Nigeria following the massacre of dozens of worshippers during Pentecost Sunday Eucharistic celebration at St. Francis Xavier Owo Parish.
In a Monday, June 6 statement shared with ACI Africa, members of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) decry the fact that the mass killings occurred on the Solemnity of Pentecost when “we celebrate a model of unity of humanity.”
“Your pain is our pain,” the Catholic Church leaders in Botswana, Eswatini, and South Africa tell the people of God in Ondo Diocese in their statement signed by SACBC President, Bishop Sithembele Sipuka.
“We stand with you in solidarity of prayer for peace,” SACBC members further say, and extend their “condolences also to our many Nigerian brothers and sisters living in Southern Africa.” SACBC members say.
They join Pope Francis in conveying condolences and closeness “to the Church in Nigeria and to the relatives of those who lost their lives.”