We should all keep France in our prayers right now.
Speaking to the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis spoke of the horrible terrorist attacks, saying:
Dear brothers and sisters, I want to express my profound sorrow over the terrorist attacks that bloodied France on Friday night, resulting in numerous victims. To the president of the Republic of France and all of its citizens, I express my deepest sorrow. I feel particularly close to the families of those who lost their lives and the wounded.Such barbarity leaves us stunned and makes us question how the heart of man could come up with and carry out such horrific acts, which have shattered not only France, but the whole world.
In the face of such intolerable acts, we cannot cease condemning this unspeakable attack on the dignity of the human person. I want to vigorously reaffirm that the path of violence and hate does not resolve the problems of humanity. And that to use the name of God to justify this path is blasphemy. I invite you to join in my prayer: let us entrust the defenseless victims of this tragedy to the mercy of God. Virgin Mary, Mother of mercy, plant in the hearts of all thoughts of wisdom and resolutions of peace. We ask her to protect us and to watch over the beloved French nation, the eldest daughter of the Church, all of Europe and the whole world. Let us pray in silence for a moment and then, a Hail Mary.
Archbishop Chaput wrote:
God is the source of love and life. People who kill in his name are not martyrs or saints, but murderers. Pilgrims from Paris and across France traveled thousands of miles in September to take part in the joy of World of Meeting Families. Their presence graced us all. We join with the Church in France in this moment of national suffering. I ask the clergy and people of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to pray in a special way in the coming days for the families of all those killed in Paris.
