By Junno Arocho Esteves
Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis expressed his solidarity and closeness with Catholics in Nigeria after gunmen stormed a church and reportedly killed at least 50 people during a Pentecost Mass.
“While the details of the incident are being clarified, Pope Francis prays for the victims and the country, painfully stricken in a moment of celebration, and entrusts both to the Lord, so that he may send his Spirit to comfort them,” said Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office, in a statement June 5.
According to the Reuters news agency, gunmen fired at people inside and outside St. Francis Xavier Church in Owo, located in the southwestern state of Ondo. No group had claimed responsibility for the attack as of June 6.
In addition to those who were killed, dozens more were injured and rushed to nearby hospitals.
Father Augustine Ikwu, communications director for the Diocese of Ondo, said the attack “has left the community devastated.”
He also said June 5 that “all the priests in the parish are safe and none were kidnapped” as was reported on several social media sites.
“Let us continue to pray for them and the good people of Owo and the state at large,” Father Ikwu said. “We turn to God to console the families of those whose lives were lost in this distressing incident, and we pray for the departed souls to rest in peace.”
