Most Rev Justin Welby raised the issue in the House of Lords on Tuesday.

He said: “I once again exhort president Muhammadu Buhari and other authorities, civil and religious, national and international, urgently to build a coalition to end this violence immediately.

“In communications earlier this year with the Primate of All Nigeria, His Grace Nicholas Okoh, I offered to contribute towards such effort to the extent such might be useful. I repeat that offer again, knowing, however, that within Nigeria are all the skills needed for resolution of the suffering of the people.

“My condolences go to those who have lost loved ones and property. I urge the authorities to seek for ways to ameliorate their sufferings and losses. I call on all people of goodwill to continue to pray for the peace of Nigeria.”

Archbishop Justin previously shared on Twitter his concerns about the violence spreading in the West African nation.

He tweeted in January: “I am deeply saddened by the killings and displacements in #Nigeria. President @MBuhari and authorities are exhorted to act now to end this violence and begin mediated dialogue. I mourn with this great country and stand with them in prayer, #prayforthepeaceofNigeria.”

Violence between Christian farmers and Fulani herdsmen has claimed thousands of lives across Nigeria’s central states over the past few decades.

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Ireland is due to hold a referendum on 25th May which could reverse the country’s ban on abortion.

Citizens will be asked whether they want to repeal the Eighth Amendment of Ireland’s Constitution, a provision that makes abortion illegal in all but exceptional circumstances.

They will be asked whether they want to replace the amendment, which gives the mother and unborn an equal right to life, with wording that hands responsibility for setting the country’s abortion laws to politicians.

If the public votes to repeal the constitutional provision, the Irish Government intends to table legislation that would permit women to abort within 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Most Rev Dr Richard Clarke, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, and Most Rev Dr Michael Jackson, Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland have expressed their concerns on the issue.

They said in a joint statement: “We have previously expressed our concern that the forthcoming Constitutional referendum is being understood as something akin to an opinion poll on the complex issue of abortion.

“However, now that the Government has made known the general scheme of a Bill which it would introduce should the referendum on the repeal of Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution of Ireland be passed, voters face a stark decision.”

They acknowledged the need for pastoral care for women, for improved support…

The tribute came as questions were raised about possible failures by French counter-terrorism officials in tracking the gunman, who was on a radicalisation watch list before he went on a rampage on Friday.

The coffin of Lieutenant Colonel Arnaud Beltrame was driven through the morning drizzle in a procession across Paris from the Pantheon to the Hotel des Invalides, the final resting place of Napoleon.

Mr Macron delivered a patriotic public eulogy calling for national solidarity after last week’s attack, which together with myriad other extremist attacks on French soil have claimed over 200 lives since 2015.

Mr Beltrame symbolised “the spirit of French resistance”, Mr Macron said.

The officer died of his wounds on Saturday morning, hours after swapping himself for a hostage during a siege in a supermarket near the city of Carcassonne.

“We will prevail thanks to the resilience of the French… We will win by the cohesion of a united nation,” Mr Macron added.

After inspecting troops at the monument as a military band played a stirring rendition of the French national anthem, the Marseillaise, Mr Macron posthumously awarded Mr Beltrame the Legion of Honour, France’s highest award.

Two former presidents, Francois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy, also attended.

The tribute provided…