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Pope Francis prayed on Sunday that God may “convert the hearts of the violent” after an al-Qaida-affiliated terrorist attack in Somalia. “As we celebrate Christ’s victory over evil and death, we pray for the victims of the terrorist attack in Mogadishu that killed more than 100 people, including many children. May God convert the hearts of the violent,” Pope Francis said on October 30. Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud reported that at least 100 people were killed and nearly 300 other people were wounded by two car bombings in the country’s capital on Saturday. Al-Shabab, a Somali-based branch of al-Qaida, claimed responsibility for the attack, according to the Associated Press. The extremist group said that it targeted the country’s education ministry, calling it an “enemy” that is “committed to removing Somali children from the Islamic faith.”
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252689/pope-francis-prays-for-victims-of-deadly-islamic-terrorist-attack-in-somalia
Catholic bishops in South Korea have offered condolences to the bereaved families of the more than 150 people killed in a crowd surge during Halloween festivities in Seoul on Saturday night. The South Korean bishops’ conference released a statement on October 30 offering prayers for the immediate recovery of the injured and calling on civil authorities to “thoroughly examine” what led to the disaster. The bishops underlined that nothing in society should be put before human life and dignity and asked local authorities to respond accordingly to ensure that a disaster like this is never repeated. Police in Seoul announced on October 31 that they had launched a 475-member task force to investigate how the crowd surge developed. The Associated Press reported that an estimated 100,000 people celebrated in Seoul’s Itaewon neighborhood when the crowd surge occurred.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252690/south-korea-s-catholic-bishops-pray-for-halloween-crowd-surge-victims
Details are still emerging after a violent raid by Fulani herdsmen October 19 in Benue State, Central Nigeria, reportedly left dozens of Catholic villagers killed.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252688/dozens-of-catholic-villagers-reportedly-killed-in-central-nigeria-raid
Today the Church celebrates the Vigil of the Solemnity of All Saints, or all Hallows Eve, better known as Halloween.
The Church also celebrates Saint Wolfgang of Ratisbon, regarded as one of the greatest German saints of his time. The Benedictine monk and bishop served as a missionary to pagans and a reformer of the Church in southeastern Germany in the 10th century.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-wolfgang-bishop-39
The Church also celebrates Saint Foillan, who founded a monastery at Fosses in the Diocese of Liege, France, and served as its abbot. He was a well-loved preacher and spiritual director, successfully evangelizing the people in the area, which grew into the modern town of Le Roeulx, Belgium. He also served as the spiritual director at the house founded by Saint Gertrude. In 655, while traveling on Church business, Saint Foillan was murdered by bandits along with his three companions.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-foillan-641