Pope Francis Daily

MANCHESTER, England (CNS) — Pope Francis decried the
“barbaric attack” on concertgoers in Manchester, adding his voice to
Catholic leaders dismayed at what British officials said was the deadliest case
of terrorism since 2005.

In a telegram sent to English church officials on Pope
Francis’ behalf, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, said the
pope “was deeply saddened to learn of the injury and tragic loss of life”
after a suicide bomb killed at least 22 people and injured another 59
at Manchester Arena May 22. Many concertgoers at the Ariana Grande concert were
teenagers, young adults and families.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the
attack.

The pope “expresses his heartfelt solidarity with
all those affected by this senseless act of violence,” the telegram said,
as “he commends the generous efforts of the emergency and security
personnel and offers the assurance of his prayers for the injured, and for all
who have died.”

“Mindful in a particular way of those children and
young people who have lost their lives, and of their grieving families, Pope
Francis invokes God’s blessings of peace, healing and strength upon the nation.”

In Britain, Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster, president
of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, and other Catholic leaders offered
prayers for the victims of the attacks and their families.

“My shock and dismay at the horrendous killing of
young and innocent people in the Manchester Arena last night is, I know, shared
by all people of goodwill,” Cardinal Nichols said in a May 23 statement
posted on the Westminster archdiocesan website. “I know, too, that Catholics
and many others will be praying earnestly for those who have been killed, for
the bereaved and for grieving loved ones.

“We pray in support of all those working so hard
in response to this tragedy: the police and security forces, hospital staff,
neighbors and friends and for all the people of Manchester. May God, in his
mercy, strengthen and sustain us and keep us firmly united in the face of all
evil.”

The terrorist attack took place within the Diocese of
Salford, which incorporates most of Manchester and much of northwest England.

Bishop John Arnold of Salford offered a lunchtime Mass
May 23 at St. Mary’s, a popular city-center church close to Manchester
Arena.

In a statement the same day, he said: “The
citizens of Manchester and the members of the Catholic community are united in
condemning the attack on the crowds at the Manchester Arena.

“Such an attack can have no justification. I
thank the emergency services for their prompt and speedy response which saved
lives,” he continued. “We join in prayer for all those who have died
and for the injured and their families and all affected by this tragedy. We
must all commit ourselves to working together, in every way, to help the
victims and their families and to build and strengthen our community
solidarity.”

Bishop Mark Davies of Shrewsbury, whose diocese covers
southern parts of Manchester, wrote to his clergy, urging them to pray for the victims
and their families.

“Let us also keep in our prayer the police and
emergency services, together with all hospital staff and chaplains,” he
said in his letter.

The bishop added: “Together with church and
religious leaders in Greater Manchester, I ask the prayers of your parishioners
for peace and solidarity in all our communities that the hate which inspires
such indiscriminate violence may be overcome by that love which faith and
prayer inspires in our hearts. I hope the days ahead, overshadowed by this
atrocity, will lead us all to such prayer and active charity.”

Cardinal
Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, president of the U.S. Conference of
Catholic Bishops, wrote Bishop Arnold to assure him of the prayers of
Catholics in the United States.

“Words
are not enough to convey the deep shock and sadness with which Catholics and
all people of goodwill in the United States learned of the horrible attack
which took place yesterday at England’s Manchester Arena,” said his
letter, released May 23 in Washington. He mentioned “the unspeakable loss
of life, terrible injuries, and untold trauma to families — especially to
children.”

“Evil,
as dense and dark as it is, never has the last word,” Cardinal DiNardo
wrote. “As we prepare to celebrate the new dawn of Pentecost again, may
the Easter words of the risen Christ, ‘Peace be with you,’ settle deep into the
hearts of the citizens of your great country.”