Pope Francis and Nigeria

Pope Writes to Nigerian Bishops

Coincidence? We don’t think so . . .
As the Good Friday Twins began their appeal to the Holy Father, Pope Francis was writing a letter of encouragement to the Nigerian bishops and echoing the themes of Pope St. John Paul II’s post-synodal exhortation  Ecclesia in Africa.
In part, Pope Francis wrote, “Nigeria, known as the ‘African giant’, with its more than 160 million inhabitants, is set to play a primary role, not only in Africa but in the world at large.  In recent years, it has experienced robust growth in the economic sphere and has again reasserted itself on the world stage as an attractive market, on account of its natural resources as well as its commercial potential.  It is now considered officially the single largest African economy.  It has also distinguished itself as a political player widely committed to the resolution of c
risis situations in the continent.”
The Udemba kidnapping is a crisis situation; let us pray that the African giant indeed continues to distinguish itself through resolution of this case.