Sep 10, 2008 / 22:12 pm
Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the apostolic nuncio leading the Holy See’s permanent observer mission to the United Nations, on Tuesday addressed a symposium which examined how to support victims of terrorism. Calling terrorism a “direct affront to humanity,” he encouraged the work of grief counseling and spiritual support centers that help break the “continuous cycles of violence.”
Archbishop Migliore said the meeting would help address the “fundamental needs” of terrorism victims, whether their needs are physical, mental, or spiritual.
“Terrorist acts deny people not only their fundamental human rights but also strike at the very heart of the things we hold close: our families, our homes and our basic trust in humanity,” he said. “By hearing the voices of victims and remembering those whose voices have been taken, we are given the opportunity of finding ways to rebuild lives, alleviate suffering and end the senseless cycles of violence and hatred.”
The archbishop noted that Pope John Paul II had called for a day of fasting and solidarity in support of the victims of the September 11, 2001 attack on New York City and Washington, D.C. and to encourage “healing among various faiths and cultures.”