By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis prayed for the victims of
a terrorist attack in Mogadishu,
Somalia, that left hundreds dead and countless wounded in one of the
deadliest attacks in the country’s history.
Before concluding his weekly general audience Oct. 18, the pope
expressed his sorrow and denounced the “massacre which caused more than 300 deaths, including several
children.”
“This
terrorist act deserves the fiercest condemnation, especially because it
victimizes people that are already so tried,” the pope said.
Mogadishu
erupted into chaos Oct. 14 when a minivan and a truck carrying military grade
explosives exploded
near a security checkpoint. Investigators believe the attackers were targeting
a heavily guarded compound that housed many embassies, United Nations’ offices
and African Union peacekeeping forces.
The
second explosion caused a nearby fuel truck to ignite, causing a massive fireball to erupt in the
area.
While
no group has taken responsibility for the attack, government officials believe
the militant terrorist group, al-Shabab, is responsible, the Associated Press
reported.
Pope
Francis prayed for the innocent victims and their families as well as for the
conversion of the perpetrators of the deadly massacre.
“I
pray for the conversion of the violent and encourage those who, with great
difficulty, work for peace in that martyred land,” the pope said.
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