Pope Francis is mourning the lives lost in the latest terroristic act in Iraq, and is renewing his appeals for peace in the country he visited earlier this year.
In a telegram sent to the Apostolic Nuncio in Iraq, Archbishop Mitja Leskovar, on the Pope’s behalf by Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Pope says he was “deeply saddened” to hear of the July 19 explosion at the al-Wuhailat market in the nation’s capital of Baghdad.
After entrusting the lives lost to the mercy of Almighty God, Francis “renews his fervent appeal that no act of violence will diminish the efforts of those striving to promote reconciliation and peace in Iraq.”
Below is the Vatican-provided text of the telegram of condolences:
Telegram
THE MOST REVEREND MITJA LESKOVAR
APOSTOLIC NUNCIO IN IRAQ
BAGHDAD
HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS WAS DEEPLY SADDENED TO LEARN OF THE LOSS OF LIFE IN THE EXPLOSION AT THE AL-WUHAILAT MARKET IN BAGHDAD AND HE SENDS CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF THOSE WHO HAVE DIED. ENTRUSTING THEIR SOULS TO THE MERCY OF ALMIGHTY GOD, HIS HOLINESS RENEWS HIS FERVENT PRAYERS THAT NO ACT OF VIOLENCE WILL DIMINISH THE EFFORTS OF THOSE WHO STRIVE TO PROMOTE RECONCILIATION AND PEACE IN IRAQ.
CARDINAL PIETRO PAROLIN
SECRETARY OF STATE
[Original text: English]
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