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.