Pope: May those with a stake in conflicts heed their consciences

By Linda Bordoni

”At the end of the year, let us have the courage to ask ourselves: "How many lives have been shattered by armed conflict? How many deaths? And how much destruction, how much suffering... how much poverty!”

Pope Francis uttered this poignant invitation to all men and women of goodwill after the Angelus prayer on Sunday 31 December 2023, calling on those who have interests in play in armed conflicts across the world to “listen to the voice of their conscience.”

The Pope’s appeal followed his sad reflection on a year blighted by violence, death, destruction and displacement.

He recalled the sad Christmas celebrations in Nigeria’s Plateau state where over 140 people were killed and scores more injured on Christmas Eve in communal violence.

Nigeria and Liberia 

“Sadly, the celebration of Christmas in Nigeria was marked by serious violence, in Plateau state, with many victims. I pray for them and their families: May God deliver Nigeria from these horrors,” he said.

His thoughts and assurances of closeness and prayer also went to “those who lost their lives in the fuel truck explosion in Liberia,” where 52 people died after a fuel tanker crashed and exploded on Tuesday near the capital, Monrovia. Many injured people remain in hospital in critical condition. 

Ukraine, Holy Land, Sudan

Never forgetting to pray for those suffering from wars, Pope Francis yet again asked for prayers for “the tormented Ukrainian people, the Palestinian and Israeli people, the Sudanese people and many others.”

“And let us not forget,” he concluded, “the martyred Rohingya.”