Vatican condemns Christmas attacks on Nigeria churches

(December 26, 2011) The Vatican has condemned attacks on churches across Nigeria on Christmas day as a sign of “cruelty of blind and absurd hatred.” The Boko Haram Islamist sect, which aims to impose Sharia law across the country, claimed responsibility for the three church bombs. The assault on St. Teresa’s Church in Madalla, near the Nigerian capital Abuja left 35 dead. Security forces also blamed the sect for a failed bombing near a church in Jos and another at a church in northern town of Gadaka. In a statement on Christmas day, Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi said, “The attack on St. Teresa’s Church in Abuja, exactly during Christmas day celebrations, unfortunately manifests once more the cruelty of a blind and absurd hatred that has no respect for human life and seeks to generate and stoke more hatred and confusion.” The Jesuit priest expressed their closeness with the Church and all the people of Nigeria who are tried by terrorist violence even during these days of joy and peace. “While praying for the victims, we hope that this senseless violence fails to undermine the will to peaceful coexistence and dialogue in the country,” Fr. Lombardi said. The attacks came after a series of bombs on Christmas Eve last year in Jos claimed by Islamist militants killed 32. On Christmas day, Sunday, Pope Benedict didn't refer explicitly to the Nigerian bombings in his “Urbi et Orbi” Christmas message, Latin for “to the city and to the world” in which he expressed his concerns over world hotspots.