Vatican City, Mar 17, 2019 / 05:15 am
Pope Francis called for gestures of peace to oppose hatred and violence Sunday in the wake of attacks on two mosques in New Zealand.
"To the grief for the wars and the conflicts that continue to afflict humanity, we have added that for the victims of the horrible attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand," Pope Francis said March 17.
The pope asked all gathered in St. Peter's Square for the Sunday Angelus prayer to join him in a moment of silent prayer for "our Muslim brothers" who were killed in New Zealand, and said that he will continue to pray the dead, the wounded, and their families. A total of 50 people were killed in Friday's shooting, and 34 of the injured remain in Christchurch Hospital.
Reflecting on the necessity and meaning of suffering, the pope said, "Each of us has his own cross. The Lord shows us at the end of our journey -- which is the Resurrection -- the beauty of carrying our own cross."