Paris (France) and Nigeria - Sant’Egidio prays for peace and end to terrorist violence

These early days of 2015, sadly, have been marked by a flare-up of terrorist violence, inspired by fundamentalism, that has caused scores of victims in various regions of the world, in particular in Paris and in Nigeria.

In Paris it is well known how extremist cells attacked the offices of Charlie Hébdo, as well as the customers of a kosher supermarket. In Nigeria, the crazy and criminal violence of Boko Haram continues to bloody the country and does not stop in front of the life of children whom it uses as human bombs to be detonated in crowded markets.

The Community of Sant’Egidio everywhere in the world is saying “No” to terrorism, violence, war. Many prayers have been organized to invoke that peace which the Lord can give. The Community of Sant’Egidio of Paris, with the Youth for Peace, paid a visit to the

Hypermarché of the Porte de Vincennes leaving flowers and reciting prayers in memory of the victims of the massacre. Andrea Riccardi participated in the unitary demonstration of this past Sunday, stating his desire to share “the people’s humanism which is at the root of Europe and that requires us to continue to work for unity and integration.” 

Always with the same perspective of peace and unity, the Community wants to stand by the Nigerian people who are suffering under a barbaric war that targets civilians. Yesterday evening, in Santa Maria in Trastevere, a prayer for peace in Nigeria took place in memory of the victims of terrorism and violence.