Pope Francis: ‘we cannot cease condemning’ the terrorist attacks in Paris
November 16, 2015
Stating that it is “blasphemy” to invoke God’s name to justify the “path of violence,” Pope Francis decried the terrorist attacks that took place in Paris on November 13 and 14 and asked the Blessed Virgin Mary to “watch over the beloved French nation, the eldest daughter of the Church.”
In a November 14 message to the Archbishop of Paris written in the Pontiff’s name, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, said:
Informed of the horrific terrorist attacks that occurred in Paris and at the Stade de France, killing a great number of people and wounding many others, His Holiness Pope Francis joins in prayer with the suffering of families affected by the drama and the pain of the French people. He invokes God, Father of mercy, asking that He welcome the victims into the peace of His light and bring comfort and hope to the injured and their families. He assures them, and all of the personnel participating in aid efforts, of his spiritual closeness. Once again, the Holy Father vigorously condemns violence, which cannot solve anything, and he asks God to inspire thoughts of peace and solidarity in all and to impart on families in this trial and on all of the French people, the abundance of His blessings.
Later on November 14, the Pope spoke by telephone with the Italian bishops’ television network about the attacks.
“I am close to the people of France, to the families of the victims, and I am praying for all of them,” Pope Francis said. “I am moved and I am saddened. I do not understand, these things hard to understand.”
The Pontiff described the attacks as a “piece” of a “piecemeal Third World War” and said that “there is no religious or human justification for it.”
The following day, following the recitation of the Angelus, Pope Francis again lamented the attacks.
Speaking to the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square, he said:
Dear brothers and sisters, I want to express my profound sorrow over the terrorist attacks that bloodied France on Friday night, resulting in numerous victims.
To the president of the Republic of France and all of its citizens, I express my deepest sorrow.
I feel particularly close to the families of those who lost their lives and the wounded.Such barbarity leaves us stunned and makes us question how the heart of man could come up with and carry out such horrific acts, which have shattered not only France, but the whole world.In the face of such intolerable acts, we cannot cease condemning this unspeakable attack on the dignity of the human person.
I want to vigorously reaffirm that the path of violence and hate does not resolve the problems of humanity. And that to use the name of God to justify this path is blasphemy.
I invite you to join in my prayer: let us entrust the defenseless victims of this tragedy to the mercy of God. Virgin Mary, Mother of mercy, plant in the hearts of all thoughts of wisdom and resolutions of peace. We ask her to protect us and to watch over the beloved French nation, the eldest daughter of the Church, all of Europe and the whole world. Let us pray in silence for a moment and then, a Hail Mary.
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Further information:
- Messaggio del Santo Padre all’Arcivescovo di Parigi in occasione degli attentati terroristici avvenuti nella serata di ieri, 14.11.2015 (Holy See Press Office)
- Pope Francis: condolences to France after terror attacks (Vatican Radio)
- Pope Francis: No religious or human justification for Paris attacks (Vatican Radio)
- Le parole del Papa alla recita dell’Angelus, 15.11.2015 (Holy See Press Office)
- Angelus Address: On Today and the End Times (Zenit)
- November 2015 Paris attacks (Wikipedia)
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