Pope Francis issued a statement on Wednesday’s terrorist attack against France’s satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, calling the actions an “abominable” affront to peace.
Pope Francis issued a statement on Wednesday’s terrorist attack against France’s satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, calling the actions an “abominable” affront to peace.
Gunmen shouting “Allahu akbar!” killed 12 people, including the newspaper’s editor, in an attack thought to be motivated by the publication’s depiction of Islam.
“The Holy Father expresses his firmest condemnation of the horrible attack,” chief Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said in statement, Reuters reported. “Whatever its motivation might be, homicidal violence is abominable [and] is never justified.”
The pope added that such attacks undermine “the fundamental good of peaceful coexistence of people despite national, religious and cultural differences,” Reuters reported.
The Holy See Statement went on to say, “Whatever the motives may be, homicidal violence is abhorrent, it is never justifiable, the life and dignity of all are guaranteed and protected firmly, any incitement to hatred should be refused, respect must be cultivated.”
The Pope expressed his closeness, his spiritual solidarity and support for all those who, according to their different responsibilities, continue to work consistently for peace, justice and the law, to heal the deep sources and the causes of hatred, in this painful and tragic moment, in France and around the world marked by tensions and violence.
Pope Francis, left, shakes hands with Mohamed Moussaoui, President of the French Muslim Council and of the Union of mosques in France, third right, flanked by Tareq Oubrou, Bordeaux Mosque rector, right, at the end of his weekly general audience in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015. (AP / L’Osservatore Romano)
