B16 on Terrorism

First off, a word for anyone reading from London.... Yesterday, the world celebrated 2012 with you. Today, we grieve with you at the tragic state of human affairs. I'm not just speaking for myself when I say that the Brits are high in my thoughts and prayers today.

Fresh off a meeting with Bertie Ahern, the Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister), Benedict XVI quickly sent the following statement to Father Cormac through Sodano -- his first direct message about terrorism:

TO HIS EMINENCE CARDINAL CORMAC MURPHY O’CONNOR

ARCHBISHOP OF WESTMINSTER

DEEPLY SADDENED BY THE NEWS OF THE TERRORIST ATTACKS IN CENTRAL LONDON THE HOLY FATHER OFFERS FERVENT PRAYERS FOR THE VICTIMS AND FOR ALL THOSE WHO MOURN. WHILE HE DEPLORES THESE BARBARIC ACTS AGAINST HUMANITY HE ASKS YOU TO CONVEY TO THE FAMILIES OF THE INJURED HIS SPIRITUAL CLOSENESS AT THIS TIME OF GRIEF. UPON THE PEOPLE OF GREAT BRITAIN HE INVOKES THE CONSOLATION THAT ONLY GOD CAN GIVE IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES.

CARDINAL ANGELO SODANO

SECRETARY OF STATE

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