South Africa’s Bishop of Umtata Diocese and SACBC President has said that the Church in Southern Africa and Nigeria are one body in Christ: “Your pain is our pain.”
Vatican News.
President of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC), Bishop Sithembele Sipuka, said he learnt with great shock and distress the massacre of more than 50 Catholics during Pentecost Sunday Mass on 5 June 2022, in Owo, Nigeria.
Media can do more to unearth what is going on
“It is most disheartening and contradictory that when we celebrate a model of unity of humanity where nations could talk and hear each other in their own language, we are facing a situation where one group chooses to eliminate and kill … What is concerning is the failure of the media and other stakeholders to dig deeper into the causes of these murderous conflicts so that they can be dealt with for what they are,” said the Southern Africa prelate.
We stand with Nigerians in solidarity and prayers
Bishop Sipuka added, “The Southern African Catholic Bishops join the Holy Father in conveying condolences to the Church in Nigeria and to the relatives of those who lost their lives. Condolences also to our many Nigerian brothers and sisters living in Southern Africa. The Church in Southern Africa and the Church in Nigeria are one body in Christ. Your pain is our pain. ‘As you weep and greatly mourn because your innocent brothers and sisters are no more’ (Mt. 2:18), we stand with you in solidarity of prayer for peace. May the blood of those who died celebrating the unity of humanity on Pentecost day serve as an impetus for peace,” said the Bishop of Umtata.
