Pope Francis has decried “the inhumane act of violence” yesterday, in which a shooter killed 11 and injured six others, at the Tree of Life Jewish Synagogue in the United States city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, during a baby-naming ceremony. The shooter, Robert Bowers, is in custody, and according to the authorities, he was making anti-Semitic comments during the shooting.
During the Pope’s Angelus address to some 25,000 faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square, following the closing Mass for the Synod of Bishops on young people, the faith and vocational discernment, Francis said: “I express my closeness to the city of Pittsburgh, in the United States of America, and in particular to the Jewish community, struck yesterday by a terrible attack in the synagogue.”
“May the Lord Most High welcome the deceased into His peace, comfort their families and support the wounded.”
“The truth is,” the Holy Father continued, “we are all wounded by this inhumane act of violence.”
“May the Lord,” Pope Francis concluded, praying: “help us to extinguish the outbreaks of hatred that develop in our societies, strengthening the sense of humanity, respect for life, moral and civil values, and the holy fear of God, who is Love and Father of all.”
