Pope Leo XIV meets with Archbishop Sarah Mullally, urging Christian unity
via Punch Nigeria1 min read
Pope Leo XIV met with Archbishop Sarah Mullally, the first woman to lead Anglican Christians, at the Vatican on Monday. The meeting was part of Mullally's first international trip since becoming the Archbishop of Canterbury last month. Pope Leo emphasized the importance of Christian unity for more effective evangelization, stating that divisions weaken the capacity to bring peace to the world. He noted progress on historically divisive issues between the two churches but acknowledged new challenges without specifying them. Pope Leo, leader of 1.4 billion Catholics, stressed that these challenges should not prevent joint efforts to proclaim Christ. Mullally, a 63-year-old former nurse, leads the Church of England, which separated from the Catholic Church in the 16th century. While relations have improved over centuries, issues like the ordination of women, forbidden in the Catholic Church, remain divisive. The Church of England has permitted women bishops since 2014. Mullally's visit follows King Charles III's meeting with Pope Leo six months prior, marking the first time a supreme governor of the Church of England prayed with a pontiff.
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The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs NSCIA has cautioned against attributing criminal activities to specific religious or ethnic groups, stating that such narratives exacerbate divisions and hinder efforts to combat insecurity. In a Democracy Day message, the NSCIA, through its Public Affairs Officer Abbas Jimoh on behalf of the President-General and Sultan of Sokoto Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, emphasized that criminality should not be given ethnic or religious labels. The council expressed concern over persistent threats from banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism, which claim lives and impede national development. It condemned all forms of violence and urged perpetrators to cease their destructive actions. The NSCIA also addressed attempts to associate Nigerian Muslims with violent crimes, calling such profiling false and unfair to the majority of peace-loving Muslims. It cited the recent kidnapping in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State, noting that subsequent developments disproved initial attempts to link the incident to Islam or Sharia. The council further stated that ethnic profiling was misleading, as suspects were not identified as Fulani, contrary to earlier reports. The NSCIA urged media, opinion leaders, and stakeholders to maintain professionalism and fairness in reporting to avoid inflaming tensions. It called for increased cooperation among government, security agencies, and citizens to address insecurity and congratulated Nigerians on Democracy Day,
Nigeria's Ambassador-Designate to Mexico, Reno Omokri, has criticized Afrobeats star David Adeleke, known as Davido, for his public advocacy regarding the abducted schoolchildren in Oyo State. Omokri argued that global publicity surrounding terrorism cases could hinder rescue efforts. Davido had used his appearance at the FIFA World Cup countdown concert to highlight the plight of pupils and teachers abducted from Ahoro-Esinle and Yawota communities in Oriire Local Government Area, Oyo State, wearing a customized jacket and shirt with victims' names. In a statement via X, Omokri warned that such publicity could empower terrorist groups rather than pressure them, stating, "Publicity Helps Terrorists. It Does Not Pressure Them. They Treasure it!" He referenced former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's view that "Publicity is the oxygen of terrorism" and suggested that global attention can shift pressure from perpetrators to governments. Omokri also claimed that past advocacy efforts, including his own, had unintended consequences, citing how his activities made Leah Sharibu's release less likely by increasing her value as a hostage. He further argued that the global #BringBackOurGirls movement complicated rescue efforts for the Chibok girls by prompting abductors to increase security. Omokri maintained that Nigerian security agencies are actively working on rescue operations for the Oyo schoolchildren, noting past successful recoveries.
Must ReadThe All Progressives Congress APC in Oyo State has expressed concern over Governor Seyi Makinde's statement regarding the loss of over 200 members of the Western Nigeria Security Network, Amotekun Corps, in undisclosed circumstances. The APC, through its Publicity Secretary Olawale Sadare, called on the Governor to provide more details about these deaths and ensure the protection of corps officials and residents. Governor Makinde had mentioned the deaths during a visit to Oriire Local Government Area on May 30, following an incident where two people were killed and over 40 school children and teachers were abducted on May 15. The APC criticized what it described as the Governor's "lack of empathy" and "flippancy" in announcing the deaths. The party also raised questions about the conditions of service within the Amotekun Corps, suggesting a lack of synergy with federal security agencies and improper deployment of corps members to guard private facilities. The APC urged the Governor to involve security experts and improve training and welfare for Amotekun officials.