APPEAL FOR PEACE IN NIGERIA

VATICAN CITY, OCT 17, 2001 (VIS) - At the end of today's general audience in St. Peter's Square, the Holy Father made the following appeal for peace in Nigeria:

"Another episode of brutal violence has been added to the current tragic world situation: over 200 dead and hundreds wounded, victims of clashes between Muslims and Christians in Nigeria.

"Whoever is behind these unjustifiable acts bears responsibility before God.

"While I express, in your name as well, our spiritual closeness to Bishop Patrick Francis Sheehan of Kano and to those who mourn the loss of their loved ones, I pray that God may help everyone find the way of brotherhood again. Only thus will it be possible to respond to God's wish of making one family of humanity."

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