Pope Leo XIV Prays with Concern for the Release of Over 300 Kidnapped in Nigeria and Cameroon at the Angelus - FULL TEXT
Pope Leo XIV prays for the recent kidnappings of priests, students and members of the Christian faithful in Nigeria and Cameroon, and urged authorities to ensure their liberation. About 315 students and teachers were kidnapped on Friday, Nov. 21, at the St Mary High School in Nigeria’s Niger state. That same week, in Ndop, Cameroon, six Catholic priests from the Archdiocese of Bamenda were kidnapped. In addition, in the municipality of Jakiri, in the nearby Bui division, a Baptist pastor was abducted. The pope spoke at the Angelus after Mass on Sunday in St Peter’s Square.
SOLEMNITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST KING OF THE UNIVERSE
POPE LEO XIV at the ANGELUS
in the Vatican's St Peter's Square on Sunday, 23 November 2025
POPE LEO XIV at the ANGELUS
in the Vatican's St Peter's Square on Sunday, 23 November 2025
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Dear brothers and sisters!
Before we raise our voices together for the Angelus prayer, I would like to greet all of you who have taken part in this Jubilee celebration, especially the choirs who have come from all over the world. Thank you for your presence! And may the Lord bless your service.
I extend my greetings to all the other pilgrims, in particular to the ACLI of the Teramo-Atri Diocese and to the faithful coming from several dioceses in Ukraine, take home with you the embrace and prayers of this square.
I was deeply saddened to learn of the kidnapping of priests, faithful, and students in Nigeria and Cameroon. I feel great pain, above all for the many young men and women who have been abducted and for their distressed families. I make a heartfelt appeal for the immediate release of the hostages and urge the competent authorities to take appropriate and timely decisions to ensure their release. Let us pray for these brothers and sisters of ours, and that churches and schools may always and everywhere remain places of safety and hope.
Today, dioceses around the world are celebrating World Youth Day. I bless and spiritually embrace all those taking part in the various celebrations and initiatives. On the feast of Christ the King, I pray that every young person may discover the beauty and joy of following him, the Lord, and dedicating him or herself to his Kingdom of love, justice and peace.
My Apostolic Journey to Türkiye and Lebanon is now close. In Türkiye, the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea will be celebrated. For this reason, the Apostolic Letter In Unitate Fidei is being published today, commemorating this historic event.
Now let us turn to the Virgin Mary, entrusting all these intentions and our prayer for peace to her maternal intercession.
Before we raise our voices together for the Angelus prayer, I would like to greet all of you who have taken part in this Jubilee celebration, especially the choirs who have come from all over the world. Thank you for your presence! And may the Lord bless your service.
I extend my greetings to all the other pilgrims, in particular to the ACLI of the Teramo-Atri Diocese and to the faithful coming from several dioceses in Ukraine, take home with you the embrace and prayers of this square.
I was deeply saddened to learn of the kidnapping of priests, faithful, and students in Nigeria and Cameroon. I feel great pain, above all for the many young men and women who have been abducted and for their distressed families. I make a heartfelt appeal for the immediate release of the hostages and urge the competent authorities to take appropriate and timely decisions to ensure their release. Let us pray for these brothers and sisters of ours, and that churches and schools may always and everywhere remain places of safety and hope.
Today, dioceses around the world are celebrating World Youth Day. I bless and spiritually embrace all those taking part in the various celebrations and initiatives. On the feast of Christ the King, I pray that every young person may discover the beauty and joy of following him, the Lord, and dedicating him or herself to his Kingdom of love, justice and peace.
My Apostolic Journey to Türkiye and Lebanon is now close. In Türkiye, the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea will be celebrated. For this reason, the Apostolic Letter In Unitate Fidei is being published today, commemorating this historic event.
Now let us turn to the Virgin Mary, entrusting all these intentions and our prayer for peace to her maternal intercession.
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