Pope decries violence in Nigeria, expresses closeness with Italy’s flood victims

(November 07, 2011) Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday appealed for an end to the violence afflicting Nigeria saying he was praying for the victims of the attacks. The Boko Haram Islamist militants have claimed responsibility for multiple gun and bomb attacks in the northern city of Damaturu on Friday in its deadliest attack yet, that killed at least 100 people and reduced police stations, churches and mosques to smouldering rubble. The Pope made the appeal in Rome’s St. Pater’s Square, after reciting his weekly ‘Angelus’ Marian prayer with a large crowd gathered there. He called for the end of all violence, saying it only increases problems, sowing hatred and division even among believers. The Holy Father also recalled the victims of the flood that hit the Italian port city of Genoa. He said, "I assure my prayers for the victims, their families and those who have suffered serious damage.” The Holy Father prayed that Our Lady support the dear population of Genoa as they commit themselves through solidarity to overcoming this trial.
Before the ‘Angelus’, the Pope reflected on Sunday’s Gospel parable of the five wise and the five foolish virgins, urging the faithful to make use of life on earth to do good. He said the scripture readings invites us to prolong our reflections on eternal life, which began with the Nov. 3^rd Commemoration of All Souls. True wisdom, he said, means “taking advantage of our mortal life to carry out works of mercy, because, after our death, it will no longer be possible. When we are reawakened for the Last Judgment, it will be based on the love we practiced in our earthly life, the Pope warned. During the time of St. Paul the cults, pagan myths and the religion of the Greeks were not able to shed light on the mystery of death. But Christians did not grieve “like the rest, who have no hope.” Pope Benedict told pilgrims that a loss of faith in Jesus Christ in our day has led many people to despair in the face of death. If we remove God from our life, "the world will fall back into the void and darkness.” “This,” the Pope said, “is reflected in the expressions of contemporary nihilism, an often subconscious nihilism that unfortunately plagues many young people."