Paris: city and nation mournful, resolute in wake of attacks

(Vatican Radio) Paris remains on high alert, in the wake of a coordinated series of terror attacks at different venues across the city that claimed at least 128 lives on Friday evening. Pope Francis condemned the violence, calling it “a piece” of the “piecemeal Third World War,” of which he has spoken on several occasions. The Holy Father’s statement came during the course of a live interview with the television station of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, Tv2000.

The Holy Father has also sent a telegram expressing his condolences to the Archbishop of Paris, Cardinal André Vingt-Trois, in which he promised prayers for the victims and their families, as well as first responders and the whole people of France.

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The Director of the Press Office of the Holy See, Fr. Federico Lombardi, SJ, also issued a statement calling the violence, “[A]n attack on the peace of all mankind, which calls for a resolute and unified response on all our parts, in order that we might thwart the spread of murderous hatred in all its forms.” Fr. Lombardi returned to the point in an impromptu press conference at the Sala Stampa on Saturday, during which he said, “Murderous hatred is something that does not have an explanation. It is a negation of rationality, a negation of humanity, and there can be therefore no explanation for such [phenomena], save that of a profound wound, a completely erroneous vision of reality.”

The Archbishop of Paris has called for two days of prayer, and promised to celebrate Mass for the victims and for the French nation on Sunday evening in the Paris cathedral of Notre Dame. “Faced with the violence of men,” said Cardinal Vingt-Trois in a statement issued on Saturday, “may we receive the grace of a firm heart, without hatred. May the moderation, temperance and control that have been shown so far, be confirmed in the weeks and months to come; let no one indulge in panic or hatred. We ask that grace be the artisan of peace. We need never despair of peace if we build on justice.”

The terrorist organization calling itself the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, claimed responsibility for the Paris attacks.

France’s President Francois Hollande addressed the nation shortly after the terror attacks began.  “In these difficult moments,” he said, “we must - and I'm thinking of the many victims, their families and the injured - show compassion and solidarity. But we must also show unity and calm. Faced with terror, France must be strong, it must be great and the state authorities must be firm. We will be.”

Visiting the Bataclan theatre, where the deadliest single attack took place, Hollande said, “[W]e are going to lead a war which will be pitiless. Because when terrorists are capable of committing such atrocities they must be certain that they are facing a determined France, a united France, a France that is together and does not let itself be moved, even if today we express infinite sorrow.”