Bishop Robert Barron took to social media to encourage people to pray for and advocate for kidnapped children in Nigeria, as they enter their second week in captivity.
Posting from a church in Illinois following the baptism of his grand nephew, Bishop Barron said he wished to discuss the current situation in Nigeria. Hundreds of Nigerian schoolchildren have been kidnapped in recent weeks, including 303 from St. Mary's School in Papiri, Nigeria.
Bishop Barron said he received an email from Sr. Mary Barron, OLA, who he had met during the synod in Rome.
Sr. Barron (not related to Bishop Barron) is the congregational leader of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles, and members of her community teach at St Mary's School.
Sr. Barron reached out to those she knew from the synod, requesting that they pray for the children who were kidnapped, and to ask others to pray as well.
"And I said, sure," said Bishop Barron.
"Please, everyone listening to this, as these kids enter a second week of captivity, imagine the anxiety their families are going through," said Bishop Barron. "Pray for them, and if you can, bring the situation to the attention of people who can make a difference. I think there are some things we can do diplomatically."
"So, whatever you can do to help these kids, and just be mindful that they're our brothers and sisters in Christ. And God bless you."
Major school kidnapping in Nigeria
On November 21, just days after 24 schoolgirls were kidnapped from their school in Kebbi, armed men seized more than 300 students and 12 teachers from St. Mary's School in Papiri, Niger state, Nigeria.
Over the weekend, 50 of these children escaped their captors.
“As of Sunday, 23 November 2025, we wish to inform the public that fifty (50) pupils who were previously abducted have successfully escaped and reunited with their parents. This encouraging development comes just days after bandits attacked our school and abducted a total of 315 individuals comprising 289 pupils (primary school), 14 secondary school students and 12 staff members. The pupils who escaped did so between Friday and Saturday,” said Fr. Jatau Luka Joseph of the Diocese of Kontagora.
