POPE'S COMMENTS ABOUT ATTACK ON AMERICA

"I cannot begin this audience without expressing my profound sorrow at the terrorist attacks which yesterday brought death and destruction to America, causing thousands of victims and injuring countless people. To the President of the United States and to all American citizens I express my heartfelt sorrow. In the face of such unspeakable horror we cannot but be deeply disturbed. I add my voice to all the voices raised in these hours to express indignant condemnation, and I strongly reiterate that the ways of violence will never lead to genuine solutions to humanity's problems.

Yesterday was a dark day in the history of humanity, a terrible affront to human dignity. After receiving the news, I followed with intense concern the developing situation, with heartfelt prayers to the Lord. How is it possible to commit acts of such savage cruelty? The human heart has depths from which schemes of unheard-of ferocity sometimes emerge, capable of destroying in a moment the normal daily life of a people. But faith comes to our aid at these times when words seem to fail. Christ's word is the only one that can give a response to the questions which trouble our spirit. Even if the forces of darkness appear to prevail, those who believe in God know that evil and death do not have the final say. Christian hope is based on this truth; at this time our prayerful trust draws strength from it.

With deeply felt sympathy I address myself to the beloved people of the United States in this moment of distress and consternation, when the courage of so many men and women of good will is being sorely tested. In a special way I reach out to the families of the dead and the injured, and assure them of my spiritual closeness. I entrust to the mercy of the Most High the helpless victims of this tragedy, for whom I offered Mass this morning, invoking upon them eternal rest. May God give courage to the survivors; may he sustain the rescue-workers and the many volunteers who are presently making an enormous effort to cope with such an immense emergency. I ask you, dear brothers and sisters, to join me in prayer for them. Let us beg the Lord that the spiral of hatred and violence will not prevail. May the Blessed Virgin, Mother of Mercy, fill the hearts of all with wise thoughts and peaceful intentions.

Today, my heartfelt sympathy is with the American people, subjected yesterday to inhuman terrorist attacks which have taken the lives of thousands of innocent human beings and caused unspeakable sorrow in the hearts of all men and women of good will. Yesterday was indeed a dark day in our history, an appalling offence against peace, a terrible assault against human dignity.

I invite you all to join me in commending the victims of this shocking tragedy to Almighty God's eternal love. Let us implore his comfort upon the injured, the families involved, all who are doing their utmost to rescue survivors and help those affected. I ask God to grant the American people the strength and courage they need at this time of sorrow and trial."

POPE CRIES OUT ABOUT AMERICA´S APOCALYPTIC DAY A Uniquely Sorrowful General Audience

VATICAN CITY, (Zenit.org 9.13.01).- John Paul II presided over a general audience Wednesday like no other in his 22-year pontificate: an event heavy with sorrow, few words, and long moments of silence.

He dedicated the meeting to prayer for the dead and wounded in Tuesday´s terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.

"Yesterday was a dark day in the history of humanity, a terrible attack on the dignity of man," he said in a shocked voice to the 15,000 pilgrims gathered at St. Peter´s Square.

The Holy Father requested those present not to applaud during the audience. He was visibly disturbed.

"How is it possible to commit acts of such savage cruelty?" the Pope asked.

"The human heart has depths from which schemes of unheard-of ferocity sometimes emerge, capable of destroying in a moment the normal daily life of a people," the Pope said. "But faith comes to our aid at these times when words seem to fail," he stressed. "Christ´s word is the only one that give a response to the questions which trouble our spirit."

He continued, "Even if the forces of darkness appear to prevail, those who believe in God know that evil and death do not have the final say. Christian hope is based on this truth; at this time our prayerful trust draws strength from it."

John Paul II´s confidence was turned into an emotional prayer. From St. Peter´s Square, all those present joined in a special Prayer of the Faithful for the victims of the attack, the wounded, their families and world leaders.

All those present joined the Pope in praying "for those who are weeping and in sorrow over the violent loss of relatives and friends, so that in this hour of suffering they will not allow themselves to be overwhelmed by sorrow, despair and vengeance, but continue to have faith in the victory of good over evil, of life over death, and be committed to the construction of a better world."

The papal audience ended with the sorrowful notes of the "De Profundis" and with another, emotional prayer by the Pope in memory of the victims.

"Almighty and merciful God, you cannot be understood by the one who sows hatred, you cannot be accepted by the one who loves violence; look upon our painful human condition, tried by cruel acts of terror and death; comfort your children and open our hearts to hope, so that our time can know days of serenity and peace."

http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=18764

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL IN WAKE OF ATTACKS ON U.S.

That They Not Be "Dominated by Hatred and the Spirit of Retaliation"

VATICAN CITY, SEPT. 12, 2001 (Zenit.org).- Here is the text of the Prayer of the Faithful offered by John Paul II Wednesday at the end of his general-audience address.

Brothers and Sisters,

In great dismay, before the horror of destructive violence, but strong in the faith that has always guided our Fathers, we turn to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, salvation of his people, and with the confidence of children, pray that He will come to our aid in these days of mourning and innocent suffering.

The Cantor: "Dominum deprecemur: Te rogamus, audi nos.

1. For the Church of East and West, and in particular for the Church that resides in the United States of America so that, though prostrate by loss and mourning, yet inspired by the Mother of the Lord, strong woman next to the cross of her Son, may nourish in hearts desires for reconciliation and peace, and commitment to the construction of the civilization of love.

2. For all those who bear the name of Christians, so that, in the sadness of human affairs, full of incomprehension and hatred, they will continue to be witnesses to the presence of God in history and the victory of Christ over death.

3. For the leaders of nations, so that they will not allow themselves to be dominated by hatred and the spirit of retaliation, and do everything possible to avoid that arms of destruction sow new hatred and more death, and make every effort to illuminate the darkness of human affairs with works of peace.

4. For those who are weeping and in sorrow over the violent loss of relatives and friends, so that in this hour of suffering they will not allow themselves to be overwhelmed by sorrow, despair and vengeance, but continue to have faith in the victory of good over evil, of life over death, and be committed to the construction of a better world.

5. For the wounded and suffering from the absurd terrorist acts, so that they will soon return to stability and health and, given the gift of life, nourish in their hearts desires of construction, collaboration and service for every form of life, free from rancor and feelings of vengeance, and become agents of justice and builders of peace.

6. For the brothers and sisters who met death in the folly of violence, that they find, in the peace of the Lord, sure joy and life everlasting, and that their death not be in vain but leaven for new times of brotherhood and collaboration among peoples.

The Holy Father:

O Lord Jesus, remember our deceased and suffering brothers before your Father. Remember us also, as we begin to pray with your words: Pater noster ...

The Holy Father:

O Almighty and merciful God, you cannot be understood by the one who sows discord, you cannot be accepted by the one who loves violence: look upon our painful human condition, tried by cruel acts of terror and death, comfort your children and open our hearts to hope, so that our time may again know days of serenity and peace. Through Christ our Lord. R/ Amen
13-Sep-2001 -- ZENIT.org News Agency
http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=18766

Likewise, I cannot agree with you either. The only thing which these Terrorists understand is a Strong Response.

The following Letter and NY Times Article from one of my Israeli friends asks if we get it now? IF not, we can expect a long, long time of being educated by these terrorists that we must eliminate the Terrorists from the Face of the Earth.

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<<"This article from The New York Times reflects one of the first thoughts that went through my mind when I heard about this week's horrific terrorist attacks in the US. ......... I'm sending this in the hope that one positive thing can emerge from this terrible tragedy: a little understanding for what Israel faces.">>
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<<"When the Unimaginable Happens, and It's Right Outside Your Window ................... By CLYDE HABERMAN

<<"DO you get it now? .................. It is a question that many Israelis wanted to ask yesterday of America and the rest of the finger-pointing world. Not in a smart-alecky manner. Not to say, "We told you so." It was simply a question for those who, at a safe distance from the terrorism that Israelis face every day, have damned Israel for taking admittedly harsh measures to keep its citizens alive.

"Suppose I had intelligence reports telling me that someone was going to hijack a Boeing 757 and crash it into the World Trade Center," an Israeli official said yesterday. "And suppose I used an M-16 to kill him. According to the arguments being used against us, I'd be an assassin, illegally using American weapons."

This official was referring to the international condemnation Israel has endured for killing certain Palestinians, people accused of not only masterminding anti-Israel terrorist acts in the past but planning more in the near future. The American criticism of Israel has been sotto voce. But it is there. And in this Black September, after the worst act of terrorism in history, the question arises from Israelis like this official: Do you get it now?

"We are now going to see a very resolute, and possibly global, approach to dealing with terrorism," Joseph Alpher, an Israeli strategic analyst, said by phone from Tel Aviv. As for his own country, he said, "People will understand with how much reserve we have responded - and after this, criticism of the response will lower."

That question - do you get it? - came almost instantly to mind yesterday to me, too, after having just spent two months reporting from Israel. It was asked on more levels than merely how to deal with those who kill Americans for having committed the unforgivable sin of being Americans.

You can't avoid the question when, again, as on many occasions while working in Israel in the first half of the 1990's, you have seen the human wreckage caused by the suicide bombs that go off with sickening frequency. You ask it because Jerusalem offers a glimpse of what New York may become.

Some likened the assault on the trade center and the Pentagon to the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. If the point was that we Americans may never be the same, the analogy is apt. Jerusalem points the way.

JUST three days ago, I wrote about the fear that now grips Israelis, how they listen for the sirens, how as the ambulances keep coming, they reach for cell phones. Frantically, they call to make sure that loved ones are all right. Often, they cannot get through because so many people are phoning at the same time. They try to hold the panic at bay.
...................... All of that happened in New York yesterday.

Even without knowing who was behind this monstrous act, you could not shake off the televised images of crowds of Palestinians - not a handful of bloodthirsty extremists - chanting "God is great" and joyously handing out candy in celebration on the streets of Nablus in the West Bank. Same as when a bomb went off in Jerusalem and killed children and their mothers in a restaurant.

The funerals for yesterday's victims will, you may be certain, become national events and, for many, occasions for political statements. Same as in Jerusalem.

In Israel, there is no such thing as six degrees of separation. In a country that small, two degrees is more like it. If you don't know a bombing victim personally, you almost surely know someone who does. You may safely bet that an extraordinary number of New Yorkers will have the same relationship to someone whose life was cruelly extinguished yesterday in Lower Manhattan.

"It's all very personal there, and now it's all very personal here," said David Harris, executive director of the American Jewish Committee.

More clearly than ever, Americans now understand that they may not assume any public place is safe. .............. Same as in Jerusalem.

Remember the suicide bomber who killed 15 innocent people at a Sbarro's pizza outlet in downtown Jerusalem last month? As timing would have it, that restaurant is supposed to reopen today. No doubt an armed guard will be posted at the entrance, as one is these days at almost every restaurant and outdoor cafe in central Jerusalem.

We certainly have no shortage of Sbarro outlets in New York. .............
......................Do you get it now?">>

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If not now, When?

How many of our people have to be killed before we decide that this is not a battle for "Justice". It is a battle which must be won by inflicting overwhelmingly HUGE losses on the Terrorists and terrorist supporting countries so that they finally decide to end their policy of endless Terrorism.

I say we have seen enough already!

It is now time to eliminate the Terrorists and any Countries which harbor them from the face of the Earth.

RamS

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POPE'S AUDIENCE TEXT