Pakistan blast kills more than 20, damages Catholic buildings

Published: 2008-03-11

LAHORE, Pakistan (CNS) -- A massive suicide bomb targeting a government building killed 23 people and badly damaged Catholic buildings in Lahore. The bomb exploded at 9:30 a.m. March 11 outside the Federal Investigation Agency office, causing serious damage to nearby Sacred Heart Cathedral, Sacred Heart Cathedral High School, St. Anthony's College, St. Paul Communication Center, the Caritas Pakistan building, a Catholic press building, a convent and catechists' house, reported the Asian church news agency UCA News. Initial reports said the blast killed two students at the church schools -- one at Sacred Heart and one at St. Anthony's -- and injured more than 100. Four members of the Caritas Pakistan staff were hospitalized for their injuries. Caritas Internationalis is the Vatican-based umbrella group for national Catholic charities around the world. Honduran Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga of Tegucigalpa, president of Caritas Internationalis, sent a message of condolence to Caritas Pakistan and decried the bloodshed that continues "to destabilize Pakistan."

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