Pope condemns wave of attacks in Mali and Chad

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday condemned a new wave of violence in the Sahel region of Africa, following recent attacks that left dozens dead. Speaking after his Regina Coeli prayer in St Peter's Square in Vatican City, the Pope said he had "learned with concern of the reports of increasing violence in the Sahel region, particularly in Chad and Mali, which have been hit by recent terrorist attacks."

On Saturday, security sources reported that militants from the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims, an Al-Qaida-linked group, killed dozens of people in central Mali on Friday. The same group had already carried out attacks on villages earlier on Wednesday, killing at least 30 people.

Violence in Chad has also escalated. The jihadi group Boko Haram killed at least 26 army personnel last week. In response, the Chad government declared a 20-day state of emergency in the Lady Chad region on Thursday.

The Pope expressed his sympathy for those affected by the attacks. "I offer my prayers for the victims and express my solidarity with all those who are suffering," he said. He added that he hoped "all forms of violence will cease, and I encourage every effort toward peace and development in that beloved land."