Terror attack
There is also the embrace of the Bishops of France to the people of Germany, two countries united by a murderous terrorist attack. On behalf of the Church of France, Monsignor Olivier Ribadeau Dumas, Secretary-General of the French Bishops’ Conference, expresses grief over what has happened in Berlin last night. “The French Bishops’ Conference shares in the pain of the families of the victims of the Berlin attack”, Mgr. Ribadeau Dumas writes. He gives assurances of his “prayers for the wounded”, and reaffirms that “violence will not have the last word”.
At about 10.30pm on 14 July 2016, a lorry ploughed into the crowds watching Bastille Day fireworks on Nice’s Promenade des Anglais. It was a massacre. 86 people were killed and over 300 were injured. Accompanied by Mgr. André Marceau, Bishop of Nice, the families of the victims were received in audience by Pope Francis at the Vatican on 24 September. “When the temptation is great to withdraw back into oneself, or to respond to hatred with hatred and to violence with violence, an authentic conversion of heart is necessary”, the Pontiff said on that occasion. And he went on to add: “One can respond to the demon’s assaults only with the works of God which are forgiveness, love and respect for neighbour”.
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