Pope condemns wave of terrorism, says violence unworthy of any cause

Published: 2004-09-01

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II condemned a wave of terrorist actions in Iraq, Russia and Israel, saying recourse to violence was "unworthy" of any cause. The papal appeal was read by an aide at a general audience Sept. 1 as another hostage drama was unfolding in southern Russia, where armed attackers seized a school full of children and teachers. The pope said he was pained at the recent bombings in Russia and Israel, which left many "defenseless and innocent" victims. Russian authorities suspected Chechen rebels were behind the explosion of two passenger jets in late August and a suicide bombing outside a Moscow subway stop Aug. 31. Officials said the attack on the school in the southern Russian republic of North Ossetia also bore the hallmarks of Chechen rebel actions. In Israel, two suicide bus bombings in Beersheba Aug. 31 left 18 people dead. The Palestinian militant group Hamas claimed responsibility for the blasts. The pope said that in Iraq there has been no end to the "chain of blind violence that prevents the return to civil harmony." He condemned the "barbarous execution" of 12 Nepalese workers in Iraq and expressed worry for the fate of two French journalists seized by militants there.

Copyright (c) 2004 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .