Pope Francis Commends Nigerian Priests For Bravery Against Boko Haram

On Tuesday, Pope Francis commended Nigerian Priests for their bravery against the Islamist terrorist movement (Boko Haram) in the country.

In an open letter, the Priest said:

"How can we fail to remember the priests, religious men and women, missionaries and catechists (lay teachers) who, despite untold sacrifices, never abandoned their flock, but remained at their service,

"I wish here to express my heartfelt thanks to you, because in the midst of so many trials and sufferings the Church in Nigeria does not cease to witness to hospitality, mercy and forgiveness."

Boko Haram has been responsible for over 13,000 deaths, displaced 1.5 million, and had destroyed many churches and mosques in the north-eastern part of Nigeria.

The Argentina Pope described the militants as "people who claim to be religious, but who instead abuse religion, to make of it an ideology for their own distorted interests of exploitation and murder."

He went further to urge leaders of the Nigerian church "to favour reconciliation, to promote experiences of sharing, to extend bridges of dialogue, to serve the weakest and the excluded."