Paris attacks: Pope blasts ‘mad terrorist violence’ and calls for ‘decisive

The Pope also explicitly addressed the Paris carnage, expressing his “deep sorrow for the terrorist attacks that bloodied France late on Friday, causing many casualties”.

French President Francois Hollande accused the Islamic militant group of waging an “act of war”.

“Such barbarity leaves us dismayed and we ask how the heart of man can conceive and realize such bad events that have not only disturbed France but also the whole world”, the pope said, according to a translation from America magazine.

The Pontiff described the attacks as a “piece” of a “piecemeal Third World War” and said that “there is no religious or human justification for it”. Sunday Masses were celebrated amid tight security outside the cathedral in the aftermath of November 13 terrorist attacks in Paris that killed 129 and injured 352. Islamic State had claimed responsibility for coordinated attacks in Paris, calling it a “blessed battle”. “I do not understand, these things hard to understand”.

The attack was one of at least seven individual incidents, including a bombing outside an worldwide football match between France and Germany at the Stade de France on Friday night.

“We pray for the victims and the wounded, and for all the French people”.

I invite you to join in my prayer: let us entrust the defenseless victims of this tragedy to the mercy of God.

The pope made the comments during a visit to Italy’s largest military cemetery, where he was commemorating the centenary of World War I.

During the attack on the Charlie Hebdo journalists in January, leaders of France, Britain, Germany, Israel and the United Nations were among over 40 others leaders who marched in solidarity across the city of Paris to demonstrate their solidarity in the fight against terrorism.

“The Holy Father vigorously condemns violence, which can not solve anything”, read the message.

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“And it is not even knowing “how” these things will be, but “how” we must act today, waiting for the meeting”, he said. “And I would like to ask you: How many of you have thought of this?”