Paris attack: Statements by the Holy Father and the CCCB President
Thursday, January 08 2015Following the attack in Paris on January 7, 2015, reactions have come from around the world as well as from Canada. Pope Francis condemned the violence and has offered his condolences together with his prayers for France and especially the victims and their families, as well as conveying his sympathies to His Eminence André Cardinal Vingt-Trois, Archbishop of Paris. The Most Reverend Paul-André Durocher, Archbishop of Gatineau and President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), has written to the Most Reverend Georges Pontier, Archbishop of Marseilles and President of the Bishops’ Conference of France. In addition, His Eminence Gérald Cyprien Cardinal Lacroix, Archbishop of Québec and Primate of the Church in Canada, and the Most Reverend Christian Lépine, Archbishop of Montreal, have expressed their solidarity by inviting all to pray for peace.
The Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue also issued a statement, co-signed by its President, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, as well as by the Chairman of the Council for Inter-religious Relations of the Bishops’ Conference of France, together with the Imams Tareq Oubrou, Azzedine Cami, Mohammed Moussaoui, Djelloul Seddiki, as well as by Father Roucou, Director of the National Service for Relations with Islam in France.
Link to the statement of Pope Francis
Link to the CCCB President’s letter (PDF)
Link to the joint statement issued by the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue (in French only)
Link to the statement of the Bishops’ Conference of France (in French only)
Link to the statement of Cardinal Lacroix (in French only)