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.

[galt-jw]

did I fabricate the stories of child molestation, numerous and over a long period of time? did I say that I hated anything, except some old fool who has helped cover up this monstrous crime? why dont you police your religion? If you and the rest of you brainwashed sheep would stand up and fight against this evil, it never could have gotten this far.

How many molesters were NEVER removed from the profession, but left to repeat these abominations?

why do you think some bureaucracy of MEN should take precedence over the word of God itself? Who needs to blame satan, when the army of Christ won't fight? I hate child molestation, and I hate the audacity and complete fraudulence of someone who claims moral authority while doing nothing, for DECADES, to stop these animals.

And every dime you tithe to such an organization gives it the lifeblood to continue.

[galt-jw]

you must be one of the kool aid bunch.

[RightWhale]

The Pope is saying that God should show mercy to terrorists because men aren't and aren't about to. Which is to say the terrorists will spend some uncountable time in Purgatorio and then if they show good behavior maybe not go to the Inferno forever.

[DaGman]

Ok I see. So your post has nothing to do with the Pope, acting as Peter's successor, asking for forgiveness for the hijackers and everything to do with your beefs with the Catholic church.

Thank you.

[Conservative til I die]

lol, and you were saying about ad hominem attacks? the irony.

[Conservative til I die]

please go away

[realpatriot71]

I'll respond to #411 later. I have my last block exam tomarrow and I'll be studying until then. So it will be some time tommarow afternoon hopefully. :-)

[Cap'n Crunch]

LOL, I just had another birthday so I'm older and babbling and rambling. Sorry.

[Andy from Beaverton]

I think it's time to ditch the www.christusrex.org web site.  The lies and propaganda make me sick!

 

WAR CRIMES AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY - THE ILLEGAL WAR IN AFGHANISTAN
RED CROSS - UNITED NATIONS - US: NO LONGER THE LAND OF THE FREE
ISRAELI WAR CRIMES IN PALESTINE - RUSSIAN WAR CRIMES IN CHECHNYA
INSTITUTE FOR HISTORICAL REVIEW - 'ALL CHRISTIANS ARE TO BE KILLED' - TALMUD
"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." - George Orwell - 1984

[Michael2001]

"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.

The guy's lost it. And people are taking advantage of him at his old age.

[A CA Guy]

Christianity is all about forgivness for anything. Don't you remember he went into the prison to forgive the man who shot him?
Now getting God's forgiveness is not the same as paying for your crime in society.

[DBtoo]

I agree with you that as humans we are not capable of judging as only God is. However, it is so hard to forgive such vile people. For some reason the Daniel Pearl story really got to me. That bothered me for weeks, and then I read about the trail of the guy who was behind it and how defiant he was. He had no remorse at all. For us mere mortals it is so hard to forgive in many cases. However what you say is correct.

[PFKEY]

God makes no distinction between little sins and big sins. A sin is a sin.

I'm sure he looks on my sins the same as he does those of the terrorists.

[DBtoo]

That was a very enlightening article, and made a lot of sense. It was a bit hypocritical of those 3 men to be sorry only when they learned the man who refused to play cards was a well-thought of Rabbi.

[DBtoo]

Sinkspur, I think you are a very wise and gracious person.

[DBtoo]

My devoutly Catholic aunt still prays for my father's soul. He died ten years ago and never did believe in God. She says she prays for him everyday.

[putupon]

I hope God's version of Heaven is different from the Pope's. I'm no saint, but if I do make it to Heaven, I don't want to spend eternity in the company of mass murderers, pedophile priests, etc., etc.

[DBtoo]

Even some physicists who have been doing research on time are starting to come to the conclusion that time, past, present, and future are all occuring at once. As if time wraps around on itself. I have believed this for some time, and that is why I pay attention to that subject matter. In our earthly forms we are just not able to comprehend or see it.

[DBtoo]

It sounds like you have a personal grudge against the Catholic church. You don't have to believe in it, but hating it will do you no good.

[danmar]

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

Guess what Sir, Mr.Pope,I just freshly ran out of cheeks to slap, as for forgiveness, no way one can get that from me, after all that carnage(saw the replay on FOX, showing people jumping out thinking...maybe I will end up with some broken bones instead beign burned alive. THAT picture just etched in my brain! What a horror!...and the old man wants me to forgive?...He can speak for himself and do what ever he wants to, but I want REVENGE, and by God with our President we will get it.
Eye for an Eye, Tooth for a Tooth,...it is even written in the Bible!