POPE FRANCIS CONDEMNS VIOLENCE AND APPEALS FOR PEACE IN LESOTHO Addressing hundreds of crowds gathered in St. Peter’ square for the Angelus, Sunday 7 September, Pope Francis has made two passionate pleas for peace in Lesotho and Ukraine. Referring to Lesotho, Pope Francis said, “I join my voice to that of the Bishops of Lesotho, who have appealed for peace in that country. I condemn all acts of violence and ask that the Lord will restore to the Kingdom of Lesotho peace that is (rooted) in justice and fraternity”. On Thursday the Lesotho Times, reported that the Lesotho Catholic Bishops’ Conference (LCBC) had called for peaceful dialogue between the country’s feuding parties and also urged the international community to ensure that stability returns to the troubled kingdom. Addressing a media conference in the capital, Maseru, Lesotho’s Bishop Augustinus Tumaole Bane, the Bishop of Leribe, spoke on behalf of his brother-Bishops and urged political parties in government as well as the security agencies to resolve their differences without resorting to violence, emphasising the need to exercise “restraint” in their actions. At the media conference, Bishop Bane, was flanked by Bishop Joseph Mopeli Sephamola, Archbishop Tlali Gerard Lerotholi, Archbishop Emeritus Bernard Mohlalisi, Bishop Emeritus Sebastian Khoarai, and Bishop John Tlhomola. Pope Francis’ appeal coincides with new information coming out of Lesotho that the renegade Lieutenant General Tlali Kamoli, who has refused to step down as the commander of the Lesothos military has taken control of Lesotho’s state armouries and maybe preparing for a stand-off, a violent confrontation or even civil war. - source Vatican Radio-English Section
Posted on: Mon, 08 Sep 2014 09:17:48 +0000
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