Pope Francis was “deeply saddened” by the tragic shooting in a Swedish school, sending “assurance of his spiritual closeness to all affected by this traumatic incident,” in which 10 students of an adult education centre were killed. Source: OSV News.
A telegram signed yesterday by the Vatican’s secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said that the pontiff “offers prayers for the repose of the souls of those who have died,” as well as “consolation of their grieving families and friends, and for the speedy recovery of the injured” in Tuesday’s attack in which the gunman took his own life after the rampage.
As the Pope invoked upon the Swedish people “Almighty God’s gifts of unity and peace,” Swedish Cardinal Anders Arborelius of Stockholm lamented the rise of violence in Sweden after the deadliest mass shooting in the country’s history.
In a statement on Tuesday, Cardinal Arborelius said the country’s Catholics mourned “the victims of the violent act in Örebro”, a northern city located 190 kilometres west of Stockholm.
“Violence and shootings only seem to increase and increase,” the cardinal said. “We ask for God’s help so that goodness and harmony may prevail in our country.”
A spokesperson for the Diocese of Stockholm said the cardinal, who is in Rome for the Jubilee pilgrimage sponsored by the Nordic bishops’ conference, will return to Sweden today.
“This coming Sunday, we (will) pray in all our churches for those who have been killed and for God’s mercy,” the cardinal said.
The cardinal’s statement included a message from St Eskil’s Church, a Catholic parish in Örebro, saying it would remain open for personal prayers and celebrate an evening Mass to “pray for our city and those affected by Tuesday’s events.”
Although police were still investigating, local media reported that a masked man entered the Campus Risbergska, an adult education centre, and opened fire, killing 10 people before turning the gun on himself.
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Pope Francis, Sweden’s cardinal mourn victims of deadly mass shooting (Junno Arocho Esteves, OSV News)
