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Catholic World News News Feature

Vatican officials denounce London bombings July 08, 2005

Vatican authorities have reacted strongly to the July 7 bombings in London, with prelates denouncing terrorism and urging new efforts to cope with radical Islam.

Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Secretary of State, spoke of his concern about the hatred that motivates such violence. But Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald, president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue, cautioned against blaming all Muslims for the acts of terrorists.

Security officials indicated that although the July 7 bombings have raised concerns about security in cities throughout the world, no special steps have been taken to increase precautions around the Vatican. Italian authorities, working with the Holy See, have already put tight security measures into effect, on a permanent basis, around the Vatican.

In an interview with Italy's Canale5 television network, Cardinal Sodano said: "What worries us the most-- for Catholics and for the Holy See-- is the hatred that lies at the base of these massacres, these atrocious crimes."

The Secretary of State issued an appeal to "all men of good will, from all religions," to engage in dialogue, to combat the violence and to "stop the hatred." Without specifically mentioning Islam, he spoke of a "challenge to civilization" that must be met.

Archbishop Fitzgerald, speaking on Vatican Radio, remarked that "it is true that there are Muslims who have perpetrated these attacks." But he added that it would be wrong to condemn all Muslims for the acts of a few, and encouraged "an attitude of confidence and respect for persons of other religius."

Archbishop Fitzgerald, who is English, said that he was pleased that the G8 leaders had continued their summit meeting in Scotland, demonstrating that "these attacks do not deter the world's leaders" from conducting their business. He observed that the G8 leaders had drawn together in response to the bombings, recognizing the attacks on London as an attack on all of the world's nation.

The Vatican newspaper decried the "barbarism that seems to have taken hold of our times." L'Osservatore Romano said that the "ferocious terrorist attacks in London re-open deep wounds in the whole world," and serve no purpose by to "kill the peace." L'Osservatore noted that the victims of the terrorist attack were not the country's political leaders, nor the rich and powerful, but ordinary people who were going about their everyday business. The fear of terrorism has made life uncertain for everyone, the paper observed, reminding all people of their vulnerability.