Pope prays Bagdad’s victims may be seed of reconciliation

(Nov.03,2010) Profound grief and spiritual closeness was expressed by Pope Benedict XVI on Tuesday, the day of the funeral of two priests, Fr. Tha’ir Saad and
Fr. Boutros Wasim, and numerous faithful, who were killed in Sunday’s terrible attack on the Church in the Iraqi capital of Bagdad. The Pope’s condolence telegram was addressed to Archbishop Athanase Matti Shaba Matoka of the Syrian-rite Catholics of Bagdad.
Armed militants wearing explosives stormed the cathedral Oct. 31, while an estimated 100 faithful were celebrating evening Mass and a series of explosions left a large number of people dead and injured, news reports said.
The Papal telegram noted that for many years, Iraq has been undergoing untold suffering, and even Christians have become targets of brutal attacks; and respect for life is totally lacking, thus undermining confidence and peace. The Pope renewed an appeal that the sacrifice of our brothers and sisters, can be the seed of peace and rebirth of reconciliation, solidarity and fraternal coexistence. The Papal telegram also expressed condolences to the families, who lost their loved ones and concluded with his apostolic blessing.