By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist

Pope Benedict XVI mourned the senseless attacks on a government building and youth camp in Norway on Friday that left 93 people dead.

“Once again, unfortunately, we hear news of death and violence,” the Pope said yesterday after reciting the Angelus at the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo.  “We all feel a deep sorrow for the major terrorist attacks which occurred in Norway last Friday. We pray for the victims, the wounded and their loved ones. I want to repeat again to everyone the heartfelt plea to abandon forever the path of hatred and escape from the logic of evil.”

The Apostolic Nuncio to Norway, Archbbishop Paul Tscherrig, called the attack, which appears to have been committed by a lone gunman,  a “great catastrophe,” saying that Norway is a peaceful country which has suffered a “gigantic blow” by Friday’s attack.

“It is madness,” Archbishop Tscherrig told Vatican Radio. “All these actions are irrational, and difficult to comprehend, whether they had personal or political reasons. In any case, it is always an unbelievable thing.”

Like the pope, he reassured the public that the Catholic Church is praying for the victims.

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