Pope Laments Attack on Iraqi Students

(May 6, 2010) Pope Benedict XVI expressed his condolences for the attack on Christian university students in Iraq over the weekend in a telegram sent to Archbishop Basile Georges Casmoussa of Mosul. The telegram, which was signed by the Pope's secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, stated that the Holy Father was "profoundly saddened by the tragic loss of life and for the injuries" that were caused by the Sunday bombing, reported Vatican Radio. Fides news agency reported that two bombs hit three buses filled with Christian students en route to the University of Mosul. The blasts left at least one passenger dead, and some 120 injured. Three students are in serious condition, and one student is in a coma. The bus convoy was carrying students from the mainly Christian town of Qaraqosh to classes at the University of Mosul. Pope Benedict XVI assured his "spiritual closeness to the Christian communities of Iraq" and renewed his "appeal to all men and women of good will to remain firm in the ways of peace and to reject all the acts of violence that have caused so much suffering."