25 dead in attack on Cairo church
December 12, 2016
At least 25 people were killed on December 11 when a bomb exploded in a church adjacent to the Coptic Orthodox cathedral in Cairo.
Egypt’s president and grand mufti condemned the attack, for which no one has claimed responsibility.
Referring to the attack in Cairo, as well as terrorist attacks in Turkey and Somalia, Pope Francis said following his December 11 Angelus address that “we also pray for the victims of some horrible terrorist attacks which have hit various countries in the last few hours.”
“I would like to express a special closeness to my dear brother Pope Tawadros II [the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church] and to his community, and I am praying for the dead and the wounded,” Pope Francis added.
Father Rafic Greiche, a spokesman for the Egyptian Catholic bishops, released a statement:
We are deeply saddened and have cried for what happened to our Orthodox brothers and we share their grief with all our heart. We pray for the speedy recovery of the injured and we present our most sincere condolences to His Holiness Pope Tawadros II. We ask those responsible for security to find the perpetrators of this crime and to stop them. May God save Egypt from all evil.
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Further information:
- Local media: Blast at Cairo cathedral kills at least 25 (CNN)
- Pope Francis prays for victims of terrorist attacks (Vatican Radio)
- Cairo attack: Catholic Church condemnation. Reactions of Arab world (AsiaNews)
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