Pope Benedict during yesterday's Angelus |
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Politicians and church leaders around the world have expressed their shock at the siege at the Syrian Catholic Church of Our Lady of Salvation in Baghdad on Sunday, which ended with at least 39 people being killed and dozens injured.
On All Saints Day, Pope Benedict told pilgrims in St Peter's Square: "I pray for the victims of this absurd violence, all the more ferocious in that it struck defenceless people united in the house of God, which is a place of love and reconciliation."
The pontiff said he wanted to renew his call for peace in the Middle East. "Confronted with atrocious episodes of violence which continues to tear apart the populations of the Middle East, I want to renew my call for peace," he said.
Armed militants wearing explosives stormed the church on Sunday while at least 100 parishioners were celebrating evening Mass, news reports said.
The terrorists first set off a car bomb across the street in front of the Baghdad Stock Exchange, which left at least two people dead. Then they stormed the church, killing another two people, according to reports.
Associated Press reported today that at least 39 people were killed, including hostages, Iraqi security forces and suspected militants. Other agencies have said 52 people dead and 56 people wounded.
One report said Iraqi church sources included three young priests among those dead.
The Syrian Catholic Patriarch Ignace Joseph III Younan was in Canada when the attack happened. In a statement, he criticized the lack of security for Christian places of worship and called on "Iraqi parties to overcome their personal and confessional interests and look for the good of the Iraqi people who have elected them."
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