Catholic leaders worldwide have been sending out messages of prayer, solidarity and concern for the Muslim community of New Zealand, and worldwide, through social media and/ through statements released by their relative Bishops’ Conferences. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India has expressed anguish and sadness at the massacre of Muslims in New Zealand. At least 49 people were killed and 20 seriously injured on March 15 in a hate-filled terror attack targeting two mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch.
As reported by Vatican news, The Archbishop of Canterbury, His Grace Justin Welby, tweeted his profound sympathy for the victims praying for the healing of people and reminding everyone that Jesus calls us to welcome strangers and love our neighbour, however different they may be. Indian Cardinal His Eminence Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Mumbai and president of the Indian Bishops’ Conference, expressed “profound pain” for the massacre. And in remembering that it was filmed and broadcast live on Facebook, expressed his concern with inappropriate use of Social Media. “It is increasingly getting loaded with hate, threatening messages, ultra-nationalistic rage and categorization of dissenters as anti-nationals,” he said. It is time to call out hate mongers and take them to task”, he said.
In Ireland, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, of Dublin, has asked that prayers be said at all Masses in the Archdiocese of Dublin on Sunday 17th March, Feast of Saint Patrick, in remembrance of those who died and were injured in the attacks. In a statement, His Excellency Archbishop Mark Coleridge, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference, condemned “this unfathomable act of evil”, and is praying that “out of evil good will come, strengthening the bonds of good will in the city, the country and the entire human family, but especially between Christians and Muslims”.
