“We cannot pray for peace while promoting hatred”: Catholic Bishop in Nigeria Urges Action

Bishop Julius Yakubu Kundi of the Diocese of Kafanchan told ACI Africa that Christians must support their prayers with practical actions to promote justice and reconciliation. Speaking on October 13 during a Marian pilgrimage organized by the Diocese of Makurdi, Kundi cautioned that prayer should not be a passive wait for divine intervention.

Kundi stated that people cannot pray for peace while promoting hatred, nor ask for community healing while encouraging division, discrimination, or violence. He urged the faithful to match their petitions with responsibility, such as sharing food with the hungry or providing shelter and protection for refugees and displaced persons.

The bishop suggested that the experience of pilgrimage should help people become more attentive to those who feel abandoned, including orphans and widows. He also addressed the insecurity in Benue State, calling for the protection of lives.