Pope prays for victims of attack on Coptic church in Egypt

[rug]

Pope Francis at The Liturgy of the Lord's Passion at St. Peter's Basilica on April 3, 2015. Credit: L'Osservatore Romano.

by Elise Harris

Vatican City, Apr 9, 2017 / 04:16 am (CNA/EWTN News).- After a bomb blast killed over 20 people and wounded several others during Palm Sunday celebrations in Egypt, Pope Francis voiced his closeness to the Coptic nation, and prayed for those who perpetrate violence through the arms trade.

After celebrating Palm Sunday Mass April 9, Pope Francis prayed for victims of “the attack that unfortunately took place today near Cairo,” voicing his closeness to Coptic Patriarch Pope Tawardos II, to and to the entire death Coptic nation.

“I express my heartfelt sorrow,” he said, and prayed that the Lord would “convert the hearts of those who sow fear, violence and death, and those who make and traffic arms.”

The Pope’s words came shortly after a bomb attack took place on the Coptic Christian Church of Mar Gerges in the northern city of Tanta, Egypt.

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-prays-for-victims-of-attack-on-coptic-church-in-egypt-45202/

Francis will be there in 19 days. I wonder if this is meant as a warning.