World leaders, Churches, groups and individuals joined Pope Francis as he reiterated his spiritual and fatherly closeness to the people of Sri Lanka following terrorist attacks on 3 churches and 3 hotels on Easter Sunday.
The Sri Lanka government is blaming a radical Islamic group for the devastating Easter Sunday Suicide bombing that killed at list 300 people. Officials claim the group received help from an international terrorist organization. The police have arrested 24 people in connection with the explosions at hotels and churches.
Reports indicate that. Sri Lanka’s security forces were warned at least 10 days before the bombings, that the militant group was planning attacks against churches, but apparently took no action against it, indicating a catastrophic intelligence failure.
Speaking on Easter Monday to a large crowd in Rome’s St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis said he was saddened by the attacks since he is close to Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith and Archdiocese of Colombo, the Capital, and prayed for the numerous victims and wounded.
The Pope urged international community to offer the needful to Sri Lanka, and called on them not to hesitate in condemning these terrorist attacks.
The Catholic Church of Asia also expressed their solidarity and condolences to Sri Lanka.
reporter:Bridgette Mwanoka
