Vatican City, Apr 9, 2017 / 03:16 am
After a bomb blast killed nearly 30 people during Palm Sunday celebrations in Egypt, Pope Francis voiced his closeness to the Coptic community, and prayed for those who perpetrate violence through the arms trade.
After celebrating Palm Sunday Mass April 9, Pope Francis prayed for victims of "the attack that unfortunately took place today near Cairo," voicing his closeness to Tawardos II, the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria, and to the Egyptian nation.
"I express my heartfelt sorrow," he said, praying that the Lord would "convert the hearts of those who sow fear, violence and death, and those who make and traffic arms."
The Pope's words came shortly after a bomb attack on St. George's Coptic Orthodox parish in Tanta, nearly 60 miles north of Cairo.