杏MAP导航 Francis laments Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka
By Devin Watkins
鈥淚 wish to express my heartfelt closeness to the Christian community [of Sri Lanka], wounded as it was gathered in prayer, and to all the victims of such cruel violence.鈥�
杏MAP导航 Francis spoke those words of solidarity at the conclusion of his Easter Urbi et Orbi address to the faithful in St. Peter鈥檚 Square.
The Holy Father said the multiple attacks on churches and hotels around Sri Lanka 鈥渉ave wrought grief and sorrow鈥�.
鈥淚 entrust to the Lord all those who have tragically perished,鈥� he said, 鈥渁nd I pray for the injured and all those who suffer as a result of this tragic event.鈥�
Three churches targeted
Unknown attackers set off at least seven explosives on Easter Sunday morning at three churches and four hotels.
Two of the churches targeted were Catholic and one was an evangelical church.
The first blast hit St. Anthony鈥檚 Catholic Shrine in Kochchikade, a district north of the capital Colombo, causing heavy casualties.
Dozens of people died at St. Sebastian鈥檚 Catholic Church in Negombo, another district north of Colombo.
The targeted evangelical church was in Batticaloa in Eastern Province, where more than two dozen people were killed.
The explosions struck within a short period of time, all targeting the faithful as Easter services were beginning.
Four hotels bombed
At around the same time on Sunday morning, blasts struck four hotels in Colombo, including the Shangri-La Kingsbury, Cinnamon Grand.
At least nine foreigners were killed in Sunday鈥檚 attacks.
Archbishop of Colombo
Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, the Archbishop of Colombo, said it is 鈥渁 very, very sad day for all of us.鈥�
鈥淚 wish, therefore, to express my deepest sorrow and sympathy to all those innocent families that have lost someone, and also to those who have been injured and rendered destitute,鈥� he continued.
Cardinal Ranjith said, 鈥淚 condemn 鈥� to the utmost of my capacity 鈥� this act that has caused so much death and suffering to the people.鈥�
He also called on Sri Lanka鈥檚 government to hold 鈥渁 very impartial, strong inquiry and find out who is responsible behind these acts鈥�.
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