KEEP FAITH IN PEACE URGES POPE
Keep faith in peace urges Pope
By Nevin Farrell
POPE John Paul prayed yesterday for those who lost their lives in the Omagh bombing and urged people to keep their faith in the peace process.
"I hope for the dear island that the people of goodwill will not yield to violence.
"I hope they can preserve the peaceful cooperation on which the country depends," said the Pope in his weekly Sunday address. He called the bombing "tragic and nonsensical" and evoked eternal rest for those who died.
"We evoke the blessing of God on the many injured, the families of the dead and anybody who has confidence in the dialogue." He spoke to a crowd gathered beneath his window at Castel Gandolfo, the palace south-east of Rome that serves as his holiday retreat.
Meanwhile the Catholic Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Sean Brady, said he was "appalled, shocked and deeply saddened" by the atrocity and he prayed that God may comfort the families and relatives.
"Those who carried out this terrible act of murder have done so with a ruthless determination to wreck the prospects for peace. They must not be allowed to succeed."
President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, Rev David Kerr, called on those behind the "barbaric act" to cease their mindless campaign of violence "in the name of common humanity".
Presbyterian Moderator Dr John Dixon called for "decisive action" by the Irish and British governments to defeat terrorism.
The Catholic Bishop of Dromore, Dr Francis Brooks, said the Omagh bomb occurred on what should have been a day of joy to mark the church feast day on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven.
Church of Ireland minister the Rev Canon John Hay said: "We cannot understand why anybody would do the like of this. To say the bomb was in one end of town and to put it in another end where people were being brought, understandable and as far as I am concerned there are some people who are still tainted with sin."
By Nevin Farrell
POPE John Paul prayed yesterday for those who lost their lives in the Omagh bombing and urged people to keep their faith in the peace process.
"I hope for the dear island that the people of goodwill will not yield to violence.
"I hope they can preserve the peaceful cooperation on which the country depends," said the Pope in his weekly Sunday address. He called the bombing "tragic and nonsensical" and evoked eternal rest for those who died.
"We evoke the blessing of God on the many injured, the families of the dead and anybody who has confidence in the dialogue." He spoke to a crowd gathered beneath his window at Castel Gandolfo, the palace south-east of Rome that serves as his holiday retreat.
Meanwhile the Catholic Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Sean Brady, said he was "appalled, shocked and deeply saddened" by the atrocity and he prayed that God may comfort the families and relatives.
"Those who carried out this terrible act of murder have done so with a ruthless determination to wreck the prospects for peace. They must not be allowed to succeed."
President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, Rev David Kerr, called on those behind the "barbaric act" to cease their mindless campaign of violence "in the name of common humanity".
Presbyterian Moderator Dr John Dixon called for "decisive action" by the Irish and British governments to defeat terrorism.
The Catholic Bishop of Dromore, Dr Francis Brooks, said the Omagh bomb occurred on what should have been a day of joy to mark the church feast day on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven.
Church of Ireland minister the Rev Canon John Hay said: "We cannot understand why anybody would do the like of this. To say the bomb was in one end of town and to put it in another end where people were being brought, understandable and as far as I am concerned there are some people who are still tainted with sin."
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0019
Published Date: 17-Aug-98
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