Condolences From Europe's Bishops for London Bombings

"Such Horrible Events Must Never Allow Us to Forget Our Values"

Here is the text of the letter of condolence sent Thursday by the president of the Council of European Bishops' Conferences, Bishop Amédée Grab of Chur, Switzerland, regarding the terrorist attacks in London. The letter was addressed to Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor, archbishop of Westminster.

* * *

Your Eminence,

Dear Brother,

I was shocked and appalled to hear that innocent people using London's transport system were killed or wounded earlier today in what appears to have been a series of deliberate attacks designed to inflict terror on people in the city.

My prayer is that those who have died may be welcomed into God's eternal peace and love, that those who are injured will soon be restored to health, and that those who have been filled with terror and fear may find calm and confidence to carry on their lives as normally as possible. I should like to extend my sympathy and condolences first and foremost to those who have lost relatives and friends. In their bereavement may they find solace and solidarity.

I know you will share my hope that there will be no thought of revenge. I think we all feel sick and discouraged in the face of the sinister power of evil, but we are also preachers of the Good News, the Gospel of Jesus, which asks us always to reaffirm our faith in God's power over all sin and even over death itself.

I know the people of Britain will react with dignity and show that they share Prime Minister Blair's conviction that even such horrible events must never allow us to forget our values. London, in particular, has a long and proud tradition of welcoming people of every origin, and in this and other ways is a positive sign in a world where so many are excluded.

Please be assured of the prayers of the members and the secretariat of the Council of European Bishops' Conferences at all times, but especially at this difficult time.

Yours sincerely in Our Lord Jesus Christ,

Amédée Grab President CCEE

[Original text: English]

ZEN - Zenit (9. juli 2005)