Church leaders speak out on London terror bombings
-07/07/05
The Pope, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches are among those who have sent messages of support in the wake of a series of terrorist bombs that struck London this morning, claiming at least 33 dead and 350 injured.
Pope Benedict XVI denounced the blasts against the capital’s transport system, allegedly the work of Osama Bin Ladenís operatives, as ìbarbaric acts against humanity.î He said his prayers were with victims and their families.
In a telegram sent by the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, to Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor of Westminster, the Pope Benedict invoked ìthe consolation that only God can give in such circumstances.î
Meanwhile the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, affirmed that ìthose caught up in this tragedy ñ and that includes of course the emergency services whose selfless dedication and commitment is so vital at times like this ñ all are in my own prayers and in the prayers of a great many people.î
He went on: ìAs it happens I have spent this morning with Muslim colleagues and friends in West Yorkshire; and we were all as one in our condemnation of this evil and in our shared sense of care and compassion for those affected in whatever way.î
ìSuch solidarity and common purpose is vital for us all at this time of pain and sorrow and anger,î said Dr Williams.
Continued the Archbishop: ìWe in the faith communities will have to continue to stand and work together for the well-being of our nation and for our shared understanding of the life that God calls us to. I hope that we shall all keep that vision alive at this deeply sad and testing time.î
The Rev Dr Samuel Kobia, head of the World Council of Churches, which has in membership 347 churches across 140 countries, swiftly sent a message of support to Christians and others in Britain this afternoon.
ìWe pray to the Lord for peace and hope for all of [the victims] and for the inhabitants of London and the United Kingdom, who feel their lives to be in danger after these terrible events,î said Dr Kobia.
Church leaders speak out on London terror bombings
-07/07/05
The Pope, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches are among those who have sent messages of support in the wake of a series of terrorist bombs that struck London this morning, claiming at least 33 dead and 350 injured.
Pope Benedict XVI denounced the blasts against the capital’s transport system, allegedly the work of Osama Bin Laden’s operatives, as ‘barbaric acts against humanity.’ He said his prayers were with victims and their families.
In a telegram sent by the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, to Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor of Westminster, the Pope Benedict invoked ‘the consolation that only God can give in such circumstances.’
Meanwhile the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, affirmed that ‘those caught up in this tragedy – and that includes of course the emergency services whose selfless dedication and commitment is so vital at times like this – all are in my own prayers and in the prayers of a great many people.’
He went on: ‘As it happens I have spent this morning with Muslim colleagues and friends in West Yorkshire; and we were all as one in our condemnation of this evil and in our shared sense of care and compassion for those affected in whatever way.’
‘Such solidarity and common purpose is vital for us all at this time of pain and sorrow and anger,’ said Dr Williams.
Continued the Archbishop: ‘We in the faith communities will have to continue to stand and work together for the well-being of our nation and for our shared understanding of the life that God calls us to. I hope that we shall all keep that vision alive at this deeply sad and testing time.’
The Rev Dr Samuel Kobia, head of the World Council of Churches, which has in membership 347 churches across 140 countries, swiftly sent a message of support to Christians and others in Britain this afternoon.
‘We pray to the Lord for peace and hope for all of [the victims] and for the inhabitants of London and the United Kingdom, who feel their lives to be in danger after these terrible events,’ said Dr Kobia.