Pope condemns Christmas attacks on churches

Monday, 27 December 2010 00:21 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict Sunday condemned Christmas Day attacks on churches in Nigeria and the Philippines as absurd violence.

The pope, speaking from his window to pilgrims and tourists in St Peter’s Square, said he was saddened by the attacks in the two countries as well as by as a suicide attack in Pakistan.

“I want to express my heartfelt sorrow for the victims of these absurd acts of violence and once more repeat an appeal to abandon the path of hate and seek instead peaceful solutions to conflicts ...,” he said.

Six people died in attacks on two Christian churches in the northeast of Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, and six people were injured by a bomb in a Roman Catholic Church on the island of Jolo in the Philippines.

In a peace message issued on 16 December, the pope said Christians were the most persecuted religious group in the world today and that it was unacceptable that in some places they had to risk their lives to practice their faith.

At least 40 people waiting to receive aid were killed by a suicide bomber in Peshawar, Pakistan, also on Christmas Day.