Vatican City, Mar 28, 2016 / 03:48 am
Pope Francis on Monday mourned the loss of life in Pakistan, where more than 70 people – mostly women and children – were killed Sunday after a suicide attack on Christians who were celebrating Easter at a public park.
Speaking during his Regina Caeli address for Easter Monday, the Pope expressed his "closeness to those affected by this cowardly and senseless crime," and called those present to to pray for the victims and their loved ones.
"Easter was bloodied by an execrable attack which massacred many innocent people, mostly families of the Christian minority - particularly women and children - who had gathered in a public park to spend the Easter holiday in joy," he said.
The attack took place in Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore. At least 29 of the dozens of people killed were children, Reuters reports. The BBC reports that at least 300 people were injured, and officials expect the death toll to rise.