Cardinal Vingt-Trois, Vatican spokesman, US bishops react to attacks
November 16, 2015
In the hours following the terrorist attacks in Paris, Cardinal André Vingt-Trois of Paris said that “our country knows anew the pain of grief and must face the barbarism spread by fanatical groups.”
“This morning I pray, and invite Catholics of Paris to pray, for those who were killed yesterday and for their families, for the injured and their loved ones and for those who are hard at work assisting them, for the police forces who face formidable challenges, and for our leaders and country, so that together we will remain in unity and peace of heart,” he continued.
After declaring November 14 and 15 days of mourning and prayer and stating he would celebrate a Mass at Notre-Dame Cathedral for the victims, he added:
Faced with the violence of men, may we receive the grace of a firm heart, without hatred. May the moderation, temperance and control that has been shown so far, be confirmed in the weeks and months to come; let no one indulge in panic or hatred. We ask that grace be the artisan of peace. We need never despair of peace if we build on justice.
In an initial statement reacting to the attacks, Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Holy See Press Office, said that “we are shocked by this new manifestation of maddening, terrorist violence and hatred which we condemn in the most radical way together with the Pope and all those who love peace.”
“We pray for the victims and the wounded, and for all the French people,” he added. “This is an attack on peace for all humanity, and it requires a decisive, supportive response on the part of all of us as we counter the spread the homicidal hatred in all of its forms.”
Later on November 14, Father Lombardi spoke with journalists and said that “murderous hatred is something that does not have an explanation.”
“It is a negation of rationality, a negation of humanity, and there can be therefore no explanation for such [phenomena], save that of a profound wound, a completely erroneous vision of reality,” he continued.
The Administrative Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops also issued a statement on November 14:
Terror always seeks to separate us from those we most love. Through their suffering, courage and compassion, Parisians are reminding us that the common bond of humanity is strongest when the need is greatest. We pledge our prayers for everyone who suffers from this horrific violence and our advocacy to support all those working to build just and peaceful societies.
To the people of France, we mourn with you and honor the lives lost from several nations, including our own. To our brothers and sisters in the Church in France, your family in the United States holds you close to our hearts. May the tender and merciful love of Jesus Christ give you comfort during this great trial and lead you on a path toward healing and peace.
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Further information:
- Cardinal Vingt-Trois of Paris: statement on terror attacks (Vatican Radio)
- Fr. Lombardi SJ on Paris terror: attack on peace for all humanity (Vatican Radio)
- Fr. Lombardi SJ: murderous hate offends reason, human nature (Vatican Radio)
- Bishops’ Administrative Committee Voices Solidarity In Wake Of Paris Attacks, Pledges Prayers For The Suffering, Support For Peace (USCCB)
- November 2015 Paris attacks (Wikipedia)
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