Posted on 11/14/2015 1:16:01 PM PST by NYer
VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis on Saturday called the Paris terror attacks "a piece" of a "piecemeal Third World War," and said he is praying for the families of the victims and the entire French people.
In a telephone interview at noon Rome-time with the Italian Bishops Conference official television network TV2000, the pope said he is "moved and saddened" by the carnage of Friday’s attacks in Paris.
"I am moved and saddened. And I don’t understand, but these things are difficult to understand; they are carried out by human beings," he said. "I am moved, saddened, and I am praying. I am very close to the beloved French people, I am close to the families of the victims, and I am praying for all of them."
Asked about his own repeated references to a "piecemeal Third World War," Pope Francis responded: "This is a piece." And he added: "There are no justifications for these things, religious or human. This isn't human."
The pope concluded by saying: "I am close to all of France, which I love very much."
On Saturday Pope Francis also sent a telegram to the Archbishop of Paris, Cardinal André Vingt-Trois, following last evening's terrorist attacks in the French capital. The message, sent by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin on behalf of the Holy Father, reads:
"Having learned of the horrific terrorist attacks which occurred in Paris and the Stade de France, killing scores of people and wounding many others, His Holiness Pope Francis is united in prayer with the suffering of the families affected by the tragedy, and with the pain of the French people. He asks God, the Father of Mercy, to welcome the victims into the peace of his light and to bring comfort and hope to the wounded and their families. He assures you, and all those who participated in the rescue effort, of his spiritual closeness. Once again, the Holy Father strongly condemns the violence, which cannot solve anything, and he asks God to inspire all people with thoughts of peace and solidarity and to impart to the families in this trial, and on all the French, the abundance of his blessings."
Cardinal Pietro Parolin
Secretary of State of the Holy See
French President Francois Hollande has said ISIS is behind Friday's attacks, which occurred at six sites around Paris and left an estimated 160 persons dead and well more than 100 persons injured. The massacre marks the French capital's deadliest day since World War II.
Catholic ping!
Is this the same Pope who demanded that every country in Europe take in millions of “refugees” ?
Pope Francis , expert on Global Warming and World Wars ,not so much on Religion
Is this common Catholic or, perhaps, Argentine phraseology? Could it have lost something in the translation?
There is an Islamic justification for these deeds—so does he not consider Islam a religion?
If the Pope had any guts, he would declare a Crusade on Islam.
Maybe it’s time to call for a new Crusade.
Piecemeal WWIII fought by barbaric terrorist “refugees” he insisted all civilized nations welcome with open arms.
Deus Vult!
I was thinking the same thing. Can we not connect the dots of cause and effect BEFORE the blood starts dripping vs after?
Benedict understood Islam. Wish he was still pope.
Not one word about Islam or Muslims in the pope’s statement.
Yep. The very same.
That’s because the truth wouldn’t be very ecumenical.
“There are no justifications for these things, religious or human. This isn’t human.”
WRONG!!!
This is precisely human nature, or, did the rebellion and fall of man not happen???
How is his statement different from what other world leaders have said? Not sure I understand your question.
This Paris attack is being completely misreported.
What we witnessed was not terrorism.
ISIS calls what they did a jihad. A jihad an Islamic term referring to the religious duty of Muslims to maintain the religion. In other words it is a holy war.
If you understand that this is viewed as a jihad by the muslims you also understand that their objective is conquest. It is not to just blow something up. It is to subjugate the world to their will.
Jihad means there is much, much more to come.
It’s the “I am very close” part that I don’t recognize.
Perhaps you have missed the news stories but these radical Islamists are also murdering Muslims. How should the pope have distinguished between the two in his comment.
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