Pope prays for victims of terrorist attacks in Iraq and Pakistan

Vatican City, Feb 19, 2017 / 05:09 am

After leading the Angelus Sunday, Pope Francis prayed for all those affected by violence and war around the world, particularly the victims of recent terrorist attacks in Pakistan and Iraq, asking pilgrims to offer a moment of silence before leading them in praying the 'Hail Mary.'

"I think, in particular, of the dear people of Pakistan and Iraq, hit by cruel terrorist acts in recent days," the Pope said Feb. 19. "We pray for the victims, the wounded and the families. Let us pray fervently that every heart hardened by hatred is converted to peace, according to the will of God."

A suicide bomber reportedly loyal to the Islamic State attacked devotees at a Sufi shrine in Sehwan, Pakistan, more than 90 miles northwest of Hyderabad, Feb. 16. In addition to the more than 80 killed in the attack, some 250 were wounded.

The same day, a car bomb exploded in Baghdad's southwestern al-Bayaa neighborhood shortly before sunset, killing at least 55 people and wounding more than 60 others, according to Iraq's Interior Ministry.

In his message after the Angelus, Pope Francis also highlighted the ongoing violence in the Kasai region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, saying that he feels a strong sorrow for the victims, especially child soldiers, which he called "a tragedy."

"I strongly feel sorrow for the victims," he said, "especially for the many children torn from their families and school to be used as soldiers."

"I assure you of my closeness and my prayer, for religious and humanitarian personnel working in that difficult region; and renew an urgent appeal to the conscience and responsibility of national authorities and the international community, so that you take appropriate and timely decisions in order to help these brothers and sisters."

Before leading the Angelus, the Pope reflected on the day's Gospel reading, which comes from Matthew. In it, Jesus tells his disciples: "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil."

In this way, "Jesus shows the way of true justice through the law of love that surpasses that of retaliation." This is how we can "break the chain of evil, and really change things," Francis said.

"Evil is in fact a 'vacuum' of good," he said, which can only be filled with good, not with another evil, "another void."

However, this doesn't mean we are ignoring or contradicting justice, the Pope emphasized. "On the contrary, Christian love, which is manifested in a special way in mercy, is a greater realization of justice."

"What Jesus wants to teach us is the distinction we have to make between justice and revenge," he said. "Distinguish between justice and revenge. Revenge is never right."

We are allowed to seek justice – and it is our duty to do so – he explained, but to take revenge is to incite hatred and violence, which is always wrong.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus also tells his disciples to "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." This does not mean that Jesus in any way endorses the wrongdoing or evil, Francis said. It should be understood as "an invitation to a higher perspective."

This is the same higher perspective that God the Father has, he noted, who "causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust."

No matter what, the Pope continued, our enemies, are in fact still human people, "created in God's image," although at the present time they may be tarnished by sin or error.

Francis said that it's important to remember that our "enemies" may not just be people who are different from us or who live far away, but that in many cases we can speak about even ourselves as enemies, especially to those we come into conflict with on a regular basis, such as our neighbors and family members.

An enemy is anyone who commits a wrong against us, but "to all of them we are called to respond with good…inspired by love," he said.

"May the Virgin Mary help us to follow Jesus on this difficult path," he concluded, "which really enhances human dignity and makes us live as children of our Father who is in heaven."

"Help us to practice patience, dialogue, forgiveness, and so to be artisans of communion and artisans of brotherhood in our daily lives."