Pope receives families of victims of terrorist attack in France

September 26, 2016

Pope Francis met with the relatives of the victims of the July 14 attack in Nice, France, in which Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, a Tunisian, drove a truck into a crowd, killing 87 and injuring over 400.

“I wish to share in your pain, a pain that is even greater when I think of the children, or indeed entire families, whose life was taken from them suddenly and so dramatically,” the Pope said on September 24 in Paul VI Audience Hall. “I assure each one of you of my compassion, my closeness and my prayer.”

Pope Francis added:

For us Christians, the foundation of hope is Jesus Christ, Who died and rose again. The apostle Paul assures us, ‘if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him’. … May the certainty of eternal life, which pertains also to believers of other religions, be of consolation to you throughout life, and constitute a strong reason for perseverance, to continue with courage on your earthly journey.

 

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Further information:

• Audience with the families of the victims of the attack in Nice - 2016.09.24 (Holy See Press Office)
• Udienza ai familiari delle vittime dell’attentato di Nizza del 14 luglio 2016, 24.09.2016 (Holy See Press Office)
• The Pope receives the relatives of the 14 July attack in Nice, 24.09.2016 (Holy See Press Office)