Pope joins Italians in mourning slain personnel in Iraq

Published: 2003-11-18

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- As Italy held a state funeral for 19 Italians killed in a suicide bombing in Iraq, Pope John Paul II expressed his condolences and said the victims had died while performing a service to the Iraqi people. "I join with you spiritually to invoke the gift of peace for a humanity that is tormented by so many bloody conflicts," the pope said in a message read to Italian bishops who were meeting in Assisi Nov. 17. "Together with you, I entrust to the Lord the Italians who have fallen in Iraq, fulfilling their duty at the service of those populations," he said. The Italians killed in the bombing of a military headquarters in An Nasiriyah Nov. 12 included 12 military policemen, five soldiers and two civilians. The attack also killed 14 non-Italians and left more than 80 others wounded. The suicide bombing was condemned as "terrorism" by the Italian bishops and denounced as a "vile attack" by the pope, who said the Italian contingent was carrying out a "mission of peace."

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