The following is the telegram of condolence for the victims of the attacks that took place yesterday, Sunday 25 February 2024, in a Catholic Church in Essakane and in a mosque in Natiaboani, in Burkina Faso, sent on behalf of the Holy Father Francis by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin to the president of the Episcopal Conference of Burkina Faso and Niger, Bishop Laurent Dabiré:

Telegram

TO HIS EXCELLENCY BISHOP LAURENT DABIRÉ
PRESIDENT OF THE EPISCOPAL CONFERENCE OF BURKINA FASO AND NIGER
OUAGADOUGOU

POPE FRANCIS WAS DEEPLY SADDENED TO LEARN OF THE TRAGIC TERRORIST ATTACK IN A CATHOLIC CHURCH IN ESSAKANE ON 25 FEBRUARY 2024, AND THE LOSS OF HUMAN LIVES IT HAS CAUSED. HE JOINS IN THE MOURNING OF THE FAMILIES, EXPRESSING TO THEM HIS CLOSENESS AND SORROW. HIS HOLINESS ALSO EXPRESSES HIS SADNESS TO THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY FOR THE ATTACK PERPETRATED AGAINST A MOSQUE IN NATIABOANI. HE PRAYS FOR THE REPOSE OF THE DECEASED, ENTRUSTING THEM TO GOD’S MERCY, AND FOR THE HEALING OF THE WOUNDED. RECALLING THAT HATRED IS NOT THE SOLUTION TO CONFLICTS, THE POPE URGES RESPECT FOR SACRED PLACES AND THE FIGHT AGAINST VIOLENCE IN ORDER TO PROMOTE THE VALUES OF PEACE. HE ASKS THE LORD TO BRING STRENGTH AND CONSOLATION TO ALL THOSE AFFECTED BY THESE TRAGEDIES. THE HOLY FATHER INVOKES AN ABUNDANCE OF DIVINE BLESSINGS ON THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF BURKINA FASO, AND ON THE NATION AS A WHOLE.

CARDINAL PIETRO PAROLIN
SECRETARY OF STATE FOR HIS HOLINESS