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.

[cynicom]

The Pope is in lockstep with denial, how sad. This war is based on Islam trying to destroy Christianity. This country just happens to be the most powerful country in the world and Christian. For Islam that is two strikes against us.

[Kozak]

...and may God show mercy and forgiveness for the authors of this horrible terror attack," Sorry, I can't be so forgiving. May they burn in hell.

Well, I don't have a problem with God showing the bastards mercy, I however feel no such compulsion, and wish each and every one of the Islamic radicals a swift visit to the throne of God....

[I still care]

Yup. Asking for mercy for sinners is his calling. However, (I am not a Catholic)I think you can be sure that God is just. So no one need be concerned that this is going to change where these men spend eternity.

[sinkspur]

None of these people are asking for forgiveness, so why is the Pope asking God to forgive them when they've shown no signs that they're remorseful of their actions whatsoever?

"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

[HanneyBean]

You're WAAAAYYY off base with this one. Those despicable thugs had their chance to repent before the True God (not Allah) before they plowed planes carrying innocent men, women and children into buildings with innocent men, women and children. Obviously, they didn't repent, and there's no forgiveness after the fact. Ergo, they're in the hell they so richly deserve, and I for one am GLAD.

[carmody]

"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."

Why didn't Reuter highlight this remark? Or the fact that he called the act "ferocious inhumanity"?

[ovrtaxt]

"Judging another man's soul is above your pay grade, too. All you can do is guess."

I can judge their actions however. If they did repent, they wouldn't have committed the act. Crashing those planes was the last act they ever did. Repent means to change your course of action, not have some emotional blubfest. They thought they were doing God's will. They were deceived.

[RummyChick]

That is an excellent question. I wish someone would ask him that.

[Junior]

The Pope is a man of God, and God did specifically command, through His son, that we forgive our enemies -- seems to me the Pope isn't senile, but is simply being the best Christian he can be.

[ovrtaxt]

"Catholics believe that the dead can be saved."

oh. Why? After that, your authority to exercise your free will is gone. God gave the authority to Adam to exercise it in the earth. After that, your state is fixed. At least according to the Bible.

[uncbob]

but asked for prayers that God would show mercy and forgiveness for the attackers.

Kinda blasphemous insinuating God ( a Pefect Being )needs prayers from humans to show mercy or any other human trait

[sinkspur]

Catholics believe that the dead can be saved.

Christians believe that praying for the dead has merit, and that God hears those prayers.

[Conservative til I die]

I have nothing but the highest regard for Pope John Paul II, but the second part of this statement is the stupidest thing I'm aware that he's said.

He's the Pope. He's practicing Christianity. Cue the "child molesting faggot" comments, I guess.

[Orual]

Giotto, Final Judgement

It appears as if He has two choices, one to the left and one to the right. If JP wants God to forgive these monsters, then who is it he deems horrible enough to be condemned to eternal suffering. No one, is my guess.

[sinkspur]

Obviously, they didn't repent, and there's no forgiveness after the fact.

You don't know.

Pray for your own salvation, and leave the judgment of others to God.

[Conservative til I die]

You forgot the child molestor jokes. I think those are timely on 9-11, right?

[Steve0113]

Well, I don't have a problem with God showing the bastards mercy, I however feel no such compulsion, and wish each and every one of the Islamic radicals a swift visit to the throne of God.

Ditto. We'll dispense justice, then God can dispense mercy if He so chooses.

[MeekOneGOP]

May God deal with the attackers of 9/11, and all men of evil,
with His infinite wisdom and justice.

Amen.

[Conservative til I die]

I think it shows a lot here are CINOs. Believe me, I don't forgive these terrorists, but I understand at least that this is what Christianity is about. The Pope understands the message of Christianity 100x better than the people railing against him.

[HamiltonJay]

I respect and admire John Paul II, but this is nuts. This is a complete issue of 100% moral clarity, while it is never a mans place to judge the afterlife destination of another, that it indeed for God to decide... there is absolutely no reason whatsoever to pray for mercy on the souls of those who act willfully and wantonly as the agents of Satan.

After a year, I am fully and unquestionably convinced that if Satan himself has a religion, it is the Islamic faith. No religion of a loving creationist god could advocate and promote the killing of Christians and Jews, or any others simply because they do not believe in the faith. Mohammed was a military man, who produced a religion of hatred and violence and then acting as what he felt was the sword of god himself spread the religion through violence... IT is the only religion where the more educated one is, the more likely one is to kill others. It is the only religion where 7 year old girls are decapitated by their fathers to save family honor because they may have been raped or molested. It is the only world religion that treats women as little more than piles of crap, it is no religion of peace or love or kindness.

IT has been a year now, and not one Islamic group has held rallies in the US in support of the country or even in mass demonstrations against the violence that occurred last year... If you are peace loving and love america, why do your leaders worry more about keeping quiet instead of doing what is right? Unless of course they believe the slaughter last year was right. I have seen Muslims celebrating the attacks in my own neighborhood, I have seen them jumping for joy in the middle east and arab lands when innocents were slaughtered... but where are they to condemn these acts? Why do they not wave the US flag in the streets and condemn this? WHy have they not? Because quite frankly they don't want to... They obviously have the ability to rally for things they believe in... The United States for most, even those who share of her bounty daily, it appears is something a vast majority of them do not believe in.

I know not all people who practice Islam are violent hateful murderers, but it is quite obvious those who are not, are not willing to clean up their own house. The religion is the religion of terror and murder and destruction... if it ever was a religion of peace, it has been long ago perverted, and the Islamic community is unwilling or unable to clean its own house. So until you do, please don't feed me the line its a religion of peace, it is not.