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Pope Francis is praying for
the victims of Tuesday's attack on a church near Rouen in
France, Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said on
Tuesday.
An elderly priest was killed with a cut to the throat by
two assailants claiming to be from ISIS and another hostage was
badly injured. The attackers were killed by the security forces.
"The pope has been informed and participates in the pain
and horror due to this absurd violence, with condemnation of the
most radical form of hate and prayer for the people hit (by
it)," Lombardi said.
"It is another terrible piece of news, which unfortunately
is added to the series of violence that has already shocked us,
creating immense pain and concern.
"We are following the situation and await further
information to understand what has happened.
"We are close to the church in France, to the archdiocese
of Rouen, to the community that has been hit and to the French
people.
"We are particularly shocked because this horrible
violence took place in a Church, in which God's love is
announced, with the barbarous killing of a priest and the
involvement of the faithful".
Francis is praying God to inspire "reconciliation",
according to a telegram sent on his behalf to the Archbishop of
Rouen Dominique Lebrun following Tuesday's attack.
"May the Lord inspire everyone to thoughts of
reconciliation and fraternity in this new test," read the
telegram, signed by Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.
"The Holy Father is particularly disturbed by the fact
that this act of violence took place during a Mass, a liturgy
that implores God to give his peace to the world".
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