Outrage continues to grow over Monday night’s suicide bomber attack at a Manchester stadium with the Conference of European Churches and the World Council of Churches issuing a joint statement strongly condemning the explosion which left 22 dead and scores more wounded.
Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the WCC, described the attack as “particularly shocking” given it was directed against “young people, even children”.
The church bodies note the attack follows a string of such attacks in continental Europe, including in Brussels, Berlin, Paris, Stockholm, St Petersburg, Istanbul, and Nice as well as the UK, which in 2005 suffered subway and bus bombings in London and, more recently, an attack on the British Parliament.
“Together, the World Council of Churches and the Conference of European Churches decry this cruel act that irreparably touched the lives of so many,” the two bodies said in a statement. “Whatever the reasons for these actions, there is no justification for such violence, the world should be united in condemning this criminal act of horror…”
CEC general secretary Fr Heikki Huttunen added: “We honour a God who is life-giving, who sustains and redeems. Such horrors as happened last night encourage us to affirm this truth even more strongly.”
Meanwhile, Pope Francis said he was “deeply saddened” by the “barbaric attack” in a telegram sent to the UK.
“[H]e expresses his heartfelt solidarity with all those affected by this senseless act of violence,” it read. “He commends the generous efforts of the emergency and security personnel, and offers the assurance of his prayers for the injured, and for all who have died. Mindful in a particular way of those children and young people who have lost their lives, and of their grieving families, Pope Francis invokes God’s blessings of peace, healing and strength upon the nation.”
