Pope calls for release of hostages in Nigeria and Cameroon

- Cindy Wooden, Vatican City, CNS

During the Angelus prayer on the Solemnity of Christ the King, Pope Leo expressed his “immense sadness at the news of the kidnapping of priests and students in Nigeria and Cameroon. I feel deep sorrow, especially for the many young people who have been kidnapped and for their anguished families.”.

The Pontiff has made “a vehement appeal for the immediate release of the hostages” and has urged “the competent authorities to take the necessary measures to achieve this. Let us pray for these brothers and sisters of ours, and that churches and schools may always and everywhere remain places of safety and hope.”.

As is well known, two days ago armed men kidnapped more than 300 students and 12 teachers from a Nigerian Catholic school. The kidnapped students were both male and female and ranged in age from 10 to 18, the Christian Association of Nigeria said in a statement.

Letter ‘In unitate fidei’

Pope Leo XIV also said that “my apostolic journey to Turkey and Lebanon is now approaching. Turkey will celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. For this reason, the Apostolic Letter ‘In unitate fidei’ is being published today, commemorating this historic event.» You can find information about the letter and its text here.

On the other hand, the Pontiff added in the Angelus that “today World Youth Day is being celebrated in dioceses around the world. I bless and spiritually embrace those who are participating in the various celebrations and initiatives. On the feast of Christ the King, I pray that every young person may discover the beauty and joy of following Him, the Lord, and of dedicating themselves to His Kingdom of love, justice, and peace.

Choir Jubilee

Church choirs help everyone at Mass experience harmony while expressing love for God through the beauty of music, the Pope said in his homily at the Jubilee Mass.

In celebrating this Jubilee of Choirs, a feast day of Christ the King, The Pope said that «Christ's power is love, his throne is the Cross, and through the Cross his Kingdom shines forth in the world.».

On this feast day, World Youth Day is celebrated in dioceses around the world, and it was present in the prayers of the Mass and in the Pope's words at the end of the liturgy.

During Mass, those in attendance prayed for young people, that “following Christ, our Lord and King,” they “may set the world ablaze with their zeal and creativity, so that they may bear witness to the humble power of the Gospel.”.

Pope Leo XIV said he wanted to greet and embrace spiritually all the young people celebrating in their dioceses. “On the feast of Christ the King, I pray that every young person will discover the beauty of the joy of following him, the Lord, and devote themselves to his kingdom of love, justice, and peace.”.

Love should inspire choirs

In its homily After Mass, he said that love should inspire choirs. “Being part of a choir means moving forward together,” he said, “taking our brothers and sisters by the hand and helping them walk with us.”.

«It is about singing God's praises together, comforting our brothers and sisters in suffering, exhorting them when they seem to be giving in to weariness, and encouraging them when difficulties seem to prevail,» said the Pope.

A parish choir is a bit like the church itself, he said. It strives to journey through history singing God's praises.

“Although this path is sometimes fraught with difficulties and trials, and moments of joy alternate with others that are more tiring,” added the Successor of Peter, “singing lightens the way and brings relief and comfort.”.

Music helps us express what is in our hearts.

Pope Leo, who enthusiastically chants prayers and sings hymns, said that music helps people “express what we carry deep in our hearts and what words cannot always convey.”.

“Music can express the full range of feelings and emotions that arise within us,” he said. “Singing, in particular, is a natural and refined expression of the human being: mind, feelings, body, and soul come together to communicate the great events of life.”.

The liturgical service of a choir at Mass “is a true ministry that requires preparation, commitment, mutual understanding, and above all, a deep spiritual life, so that when they sing, they pray and help everyone else to pray,” said the Pope.

Although a choir is a “small family of individuals united by their love of music and the service they offer,” he emphasized that they must remember that at Mass, the entire community is part of the family.

Without ostentation

“You are not on stage, but part of that community, striving to help it grow in unity by inspiring and involving its members,” the Pope told them. “Devote yourselves to facilitating the participation of the people of God, without giving in to the temptation of ostentation, which prevents the entire liturgical assembly from actively participating in the singing.”.

And the Pope urged the choir members to strive to ensure that their own spiritual lives are “always worthy of the service they perform, so that their ministry may authentically express the grace of the liturgy.”.