Pope Asks God to Show Mercy on Sept. 11 Attackers

Reuters via iWon.com ^ | Sept 11, 2002 | Philip Pullella

[Pern]

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope John Paul, marking the anniversary of the attacks on U.S. cities, branded terrorism "ferocious inhumanity" but asked for prayers that God would show mercy and forgiveness for the attackers.

The pope also urged the world to change in situations of injustice that spurred the desire for revenge.

"We pray for the victims today, may they rest in peace, and may God show mercy and forgiveness for the authors of this horrible terror attack," he said in Polish, according to a translation provided by Vatican Radio.

The pope was speaking in unscripted remarks in Polish during a special general audience dedicated to commemorating the victims of the attacks by hijacked aircraft on New York and Washington landmarks.

The service included mourning music and a peace prayer.

"Terrorism is and always will be a manifestation of ferocious inhumanity, and because it is, it never will resolve conflicts between human beings," he told some 10,000 people in the Vatican's vast auditorium.

"Violence can only lead to further hatred and destruction."

But he called for changes in "scandalous situations of injustice and oppression, which continue to afflict so many members of the human family, creating conditions that are favorable to the uncontrolled explosion of the thirst for vendetta."

After his address, special prayers were read in several languages, including Arabic, for the victims of the attacks and for peace among religions.

MORE THAN 3,000 DEAD

More than 3,000 people died in the attacks on New York's World Trade Center, U.S. military headquarters at the Pentagon on the Washington outskirts and in a hijacked plane that crashed into a field in Pennsylvania.

The prayer read in Arabic asked believers of all religions to "firmly reject every form of violence and commit themselves to resolving conflicts with sincere and patient dialogue" while respecting different histories, cultures and religions.

Speaking in a somber voice in his address, the pope said injustices had to be tackled through urgent and resolute political and economic actions.

He said that when fundamental rights were violated in oppressive situations, "it is easy to fall prey to the temptation of hate and violence."

But one year on, the pontiff said it was not enough to commemorate the victims and pray for their families.

"We also want to interrogate the consciences of those who planned and carried out such a barbarous and cruel action," he said.

"One year after September 11, 2001, we repeat that no situation of injustice, no feeling of frustration, no philosophy or religion can justify such an aberration."

"On this very sad anniversary, we raise to God our prayer so that love may be able to take the place of hate, and, with the help of all people of good will, that concord and solidarity may take root in every corner of the earth," he said.

[Rebelbase]

Please to the research. I want to know biblically where that concept originated. If it is'nt derived from the Bible then it was created by man, and man by nature is fallen from the Grace of God and lies.

That is why we have the bible as the word of God...It cannot be changed or manipulated as can man's words.

[Conservative til I die]

He's not practicing "true" Christianity. Few Catholics are.

Catholicism *is* true Christianity. All other Christian sects are offshoots of Catholicism at best Their religion is full of pagan idolotry, rituals, ceremonies and traditions that are totally unsupported by the old or new testaments. Much of Catholicism is Christian heresy.

You are wrong. And you perpetuate the typical myths and misunderstandings.

I Love them for their strong pro-life stance and charity but the religion is wacked.

You're wrong.

[AD from SpringBay]

So if Christianity were declared illegal today, would it cease to exist? Curious logic on your part.

By no means is this what I'm saying. My point is that there were Christians before there was a Roman Catholic Church and that there is a documented history of extra-biblical teachings and organizational decisions that went into the creation of the Roman Catholic organization.

[sinkspur]

Thanks for injecting the mandatory anti-Catholic bigotry into this thread.

[smoking camels]

I am going to do what no one else has the balls to do.

You are a self righteous, arrogant, person who needs to repent for your prideful ways.

[Conservative til I die]

Where in the Bible is this concept of Purgatory taught?

2 Mac 12:40-45: Below each dead man's robe, they [Jude's men] found items consecrated to idols from Jamnia, forbidden by the Law of the jews. They understood then, why these men had died. All were admired of the Lord's intervention, just judge that takes to light the most secret actions; and they prayed to the Lord so he would forgive totally this sin to their dead companions.... He [ Jude ] did among his soldiers a collect which took two thousand of silver coins. They sent them to Jerusalem, so that there would be offered a sacrifice for the sin. All this they did well inspired by the belief on resurrection. For, if they had not believed that the fallen partners would resurrect, it would have been a futile and stupid thing to pray for them. But they believed firmly in a worthy reward for those who died in God's grace; so this is why their worrying was good and holy. This was the reason for which Jude offered this sacrifice for the dead, so they could be forgiven from their sin.

Matthew 12:32 "And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the {world} to come."

1 Corinthians 3:11-15 "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (12) Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; (13) Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. (14) If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. (15) If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."

[Samwise]

It is up to God to forgive. It is our job to introduce all terrorists to him...

May God have mercy on their souls, and the United States military have none.

[dighton]

... earlier and healthier ages.

That did smack the reader's face, as I suspect Evelyn Waugh intended.

[Desdemona]

Ummm...Protestants don't have Maccabees, Wisdom and a few others. Luther took them out, so they're not going to find some of the Catholic teachings in their bibles.

[Conservative til I die]

Right on.

[sinkspur]

I am going to do what no one else has the balls to do.

I guessed you weren't a female.

You are a self righteous, arrogant, person who needs to repent for your prideful ways.

No doubt. My sinfulness has nothing to do with whether the Pope is wrong to ask for mercy for the terrorists.

[Conservative til I die]

First the Vatican says the U.S. shouldn't take out Saddam because that's fighting evil with evil

The Pope did not say anything of the sort. Stop with the lies.

[dhfnc]

DITTO

[Puddleglum]

I will research, but you should explain to me how the ink on the page turns into the exact same ideas in everyone's head. If you cannot think of a way to explain this, then I'll have to get you to admit that we are taught what words mean by something other than the words themselves. And once you've admitted that, I'll stack my Church doctors against your own.

[smoking camels]

as did the terrorists. sheesh....

[agrace]

Jesus prayed this way for the Jews because they had no idea that they were condoning the crucifixion of their long awaited Messiah. The situations don't even compare. The terrorists knew exactly what they were doing.

[Conservative til I die]

For God's sake ... which Bible does the holy father read anyway? My Bible says those who die apart from God's forgiveness through his son Jesus Christ are banished to HELL. There is no forgiveness after death. No second chance. No mercy available.

Is this an exact quote? You *did* say this is what the Bible says. Or is this your interpretation of what the Bible says?

[Conservative til I die]

He believes in apocryphal texts.

You forgot to add "IMO" in between 'apocryphal' and 'texts.'

[Orual]

He revealed the state of his own soul.

Sorry, but I missed the course in omniscience. I think the class size was limited to two, just you and another Bloke.

[Pistacio]

To Pope; re; prayers that God would show mercy and forgiveness for the attackers.

Will a clean platter for Osama's and his cronies heads be sufficient mercy? I sure hope so ...that's the best I can do.