MARAWI (Agencies): Pope Francis prayed for the victims of a bomb attack on a Catholic Mass in Marawi, Lanao, del Sur, Mindanao, the Philippines, Vatican News reported on December 3. Four people died and forty-two were wounded in an attack on a gymnasium in Mindanao State University where Mass was being celebrated.
“I would like to assure you of my prayers for the victims of the attack in the Philippines this morning, where a bomb exploded during Mass,” the pope said. At least four people were killed and dozens wounded in a bomb attack on a Catholic Mass in the insurgency-plagued southern Philippines on December 3.
“I am close to the families, to the people of Mindanao who have already suffered so much,” Pope Francis said.
“They are now counted among those persecuted Christians around the world who are remembered every November 29 of the year, dubbed Red Wednesday,” RVA News reported Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, as saying on December 3.
At least four people were killed and dozens wounded in a bomb attack on a Catholic Mass in the insurgency-plagued southern Philippines on December 3
“What would it take to get them to see in the families of their victims their own families? Such violence should not only be denounced; it should also be renounced as a way of seeking redress by every peace-loving Filipino,” Bishop David said.
“This attack is an assault on our core values and our commitment to creating a safe and inclusive community for all. We could not agree more. With them we reaffirm our unrelenting commitment to peace and our repudiation of violence,” the bishop said.
One student, Chris Jurado, speaking to AFP from his hospital bed, said that the explosion happened during the first scripture reading of the morning Mass at 7.00am [2300 GMT, Saturday].
“It was really sudden and everyone ran,” Jurado said, adding, “When I looked behind me people were lying on the floor. We didn’t know what happened because everything happened so fast.”
Police lieutenant general, Emmanuel Peralta, said the blast was caused by an improvised explosive device. Other security officials said the bombing may have been a retaliatory attack for recent military operations against Islamist militant groups, UCAN reported.
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What would it take to get them to see in the families of their victims their own families? Such violence should not only be denounced; it should also be renounced as a way of seeking redress by every peace-loving Filipino
Bishop David
Regional police chief, Allan Nobleza, said police had been investigating whether the bombing was a revenge attack for a Philippine military airstrike that killed 11 Islamist militants, UCAN reported.
However, a December 3 report from Reuters said that Islamic State militants claimed responsibility for the deadly bombing, saying on the Telegram messaging platform that their members had detonated the bomb.
Mindanao State University condemned “the act of violence”, suspended classes and deployed more security personnel on the campus.
“We stand in solidarity with our Christian community and all those affected by this tragedy,” the university said.
Marawi mayor, Majul Gandamra, urged members of the Muslim and Christian communities to remain unified.
I am close to the families, to the people of Mindanao who have already suffered so much
Pope Francis
“Our city has long been a beacon of peaceful coexistence and harmony, and we will not allow such acts of violence to overshadow our collective commitment to peace and unity,” Gandamra said in a statement condemning the attack.
Caritas Philippines expressed condolences to the victims and their families and called for security at Christian gatherings.
Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, the head of the organisation said on December 3, “Concerted efforts must be made to prevent the recurrence of such violent incidents and to safeguard the fundamental right to worship without fear.”
The bishops said he was appalled “by the blatant act of terror that the perpetrators were able to commit.”
Philippine president, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., called it an attack by “foreign terrorists”, condemning it and describing it as “senseless” and “heinous”.
