The faithful from around the world are once again offering prayers of support and comfort to the British people who suffered yet another terrorist attack on Saturday night that took the lives of seven innocent people.

For the second time in less than two weeks, the citizens of the UK are mourning yet another terror attack which occurred on London Bridge when three men drove a van into a crowd of people around 10:00 p.m. local time on Saturday evening. The men then jumped out of the van and went on a stabbing spree in nearby Borough Market, shouting “this is for Allah” while killing seven people and injuring 48 others before police managed to gun them down.

According to Vatican Radio, at the end of Mass on Pentecost Sunday, while addressing the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis prayed for the victims.

“May the Holy Spirit grant peace to the whole world,” Pope Francis prayed, “may He heal the wounds of war and of terrorism, which even this [Saturday] night, in London, struck innocent civilians: let us pray for the victims and their families.”

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, President of the UK’s Bishops' Conference and Archbishop of Westminster, also commented on the incident while visiting his home city of Liverpool yesterday. After referencing the 1989 Hillsborough disaster in which 96 soccer fans lost their lives in a stampede, he was once again forced to acknowledge the unexpected loss of more innocent lives.

"The [memory] that stands out most in my mind was the ceremony we had on the day after the Hillsborough disaster where 96 people died. And of course when I think of that event, which filled the cathedral with such a sad and shocked silence, I think of the people who lost their lives on London Bridge and in Borough Market and the impact that has had - because that sudden taking of life is always so terrible but it's exactly what we bring to the Lord in our prayer in our churches."

Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, of Galveston-Houston, President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops also expressed his grief after the London attack.

"The Vigil of Pentecost had barely begun when the world was burdened yet again, this time by the sinister attacks on innocent men and women in the heart of London. In such tragic hours we implore the Holy Spirit to pour out His gift of comfort on those who grieve the loss of loved ones and on the dozens who were so tragically injured in this horrible attack,” the Cardinal said.

“At the same time, we see in the courage of the first responders the true and courageous spirit of our brothers and sisters, the people of Great Britain. May God grant strength, wisdom and protection to the men and women who safeguard our families and may He convert the hearts of all who follow the path of evil extremism. Our solidarity in Christian hope and commitment to peace is a bond that cannot be broken.”

 

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