Delhi Archdiocese organizes prayer service for Mumbai bomb victims

(July 18, 2011) A prayer service was organized on Saturday in the Archdiocese of Delhi, in memory of the victims of last week’s terrorist bomb attacks in western India’s Mumbai city. “We include in our prayers those misguided elements who indulge in terror activities,” Archbishop Vincent Concessao of Delhi told some 50 people who attended the service in front of Sacred Heart Cathedral. Three near-simultaneous blasts on July 13 claimed 21 lives and wounded many people in Mumbai, India’s commercial capital. The blasts exploded at places packed with office workers and commuters. “It is a very sad and unfortunate incident where innocent people have lost their lives,” said the archbishop. Archdiocesan spokesman Father Dominic Emmanuel, who organized the programme, said people should not only condemn terrorist attacks but also pray for terrorists so that they change their minds and work for peace and reconciliation. The Divine Word priest also said sometimes people with vested interests and greed indulge in wrongdoing. “We should pray for them,” he added.