Cardinal Pietro Parolin has praised authorities in Burkina Faso for their effort to regain control of the country, which has suffered attacks by Islamist terrorism. Source: Crux.
The Vatican’s Secretary of State was speaking in the country’s capital, Ouagadougou, after discussions with Transitional Leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
Until 2015, Burkina Faso was a relatively peaceful country, but the rise of militant groups in neighbouring Mali and Niger such as al-Qaeda and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, coupled with internal political strife, exposed the country to violence, which was made worse by porous borders.
The situation worsened after two military coups in 2022, leading to increased militant activity around the capital, Ouagadougou.
The government of Burkina Faso says thousands of lives have been lost and over two million people displaced.
The Vatican’s top diplomat met with Captain Traoré on February 17, marking 125 years of evangelisation in Burkina Faso, but their discussions went beyond that event.
“We have good relations between the Holy See and Burkina, based on mutual respect, tolerance and fraternity, which also leads to common actions in favour of the population, especially the most vulnerable, and to meet the material and spiritual needs of the population,” Cardinal Parolin said.
Burkina Faso is located in Africa’s Sahel region, which separates North Africa from Sub-Saharan Africa. The country has one of the largest Christian populations in the Sahel, making up nearly a quarter of the population.
“We talked a lot about peace and the fight against terrorism, about the will of the government to regain control of the territory,” Cardinal Parolin said.
By the government’s own admission, about 30 percent of the country’s national territory is still controlled by terrorists.
The Vatican cardinal said that the Universal Church and the Holy See are ready to stand with Burkina Faso in ensuring that citizens get a more dignified life, acting through the local Church.
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Vatican praises Burkina Faso for fight against terrorism (By Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux)
