Pope Leo XIV has joined with the U.S. State Department in condemning the recent massacre of over 200 Christians by Islamist militants in Nigeria, which the pontiff called a ‘massacre’ marked by ‘extraordinary cruelty.’ The incident, which reportedly took place in Yelewata in Benue State on June 13, has drawn international attention due to the scale of the violence and the targeting of Christian communities. During a recent address to thousands at the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV described the attack as an act of ‘terrible injustice,’ with victims largely being refugees who had taken shelter in a Catholic sanctuary following ongoing conflict in the region.
The U.S. State Department has also expressed its condemnation, with a spokesperson stating,