杏MAP导航

By Vatican News

杏MAP导航 Francis has addressed a message to Archbishop of Managua, Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes, in a gesture of closeness over a petrol bomb attack at the Managua Cathedral on Friday.

鈥淒ear Brother, I accompany you in sorrow for this act of vandalism and I am close to you and your people. I am praying for all of you,鈥� reads the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 message.

Cardinal Brenes read the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 message and showed it on a video during a Mass on Sunday organized as part of a 鈥淒ay of Silence and Prayer鈥� organised following the attack on the cathedral.

杏MAP导航 Francis also prayed for the Church in Nicaragua following the recitation of the Angelus prayer on Sunday.

Attack on Managua Cathedral

On Friday, an unknown attacker entered Managua鈥檚 Cathedral and threw a molotov cocktail which burned, among other things, a 400-year-old crucifix.

Cardinal Brenes deplored the incident calling it 鈥渁n act of terrorism鈥� in his homily broadcast on YouTube from his home. 

He thanked 杏MAP导航 Francis for his message of solidarity which he also expressed during the Angelus on Sunday. 鈥淚t is beautiful to feel the closeness of the 杏MAP导航 as a brother and friend,鈥� Cardinal Brenes said, adding that the closeness 鈥渟trengthens us in faith and encourages us to move forward.鈥�

Several other reactions have trailed the incident. The Mexican Bishops鈥� Conference referred to the attack as 鈥渁 deplorable act鈥� and a 鈥減ainful wound鈥� and called for harmony and peace. Other Bishops鈥� Conferences including those of Ecuador, Panama, Costa Rica and Guatemala have also deplored the incident in various statements.

Several expressions of solidarity

Cardinal Brenes said he has received many gestures of solidarity from people all over the world, including from the Nuncio in Nicaragua, the Archbishop of Madrid and its Cardinal, Carlos Osoro Sierra. He also recognized the messages of closeness from various religious orders and Catholic Universities.

Many among the Nicaraguan faithful have also set up small altars in their homes to participate in a 鈥淒ay of Silence and prayer.鈥�

At this time, said Cardinal Brenes, 鈥渢he Word of God is help and comfort鈥�. Today more than ever, 鈥渢he Lord is our strength.鈥� 

Cardinal Brenes called for forgiveness of the perpetrator pointing out that 鈥渢he enemies of the Church may destroy sacred images but we cling to the God who loves us, the God of mercy and love.鈥�

Previous attacks on Churches

Other attacks on Churches have taken place in Nicaragua. On 29 July, unknown persons desecrated the Chapel of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in the municipality of Nindirí. While on 27 July, in the same city, the tabernacle of the Chapel of Our Lady of Carmel in the Parish of Veracruz was thrown to the ground.