Pope Francis grieves for Jewish victims in Pittsburgh
Posted October 28, 2018 7:00 am
VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Francis is grieving with Pittsburgh's Jewish community following the massacre at a synagogue there, denouncing the "inhuman act of violence" and praying for an end to the "flames of hatred" that fueled it.
Francis led prayers for Pittsburgh on Sunday in St. Peter's Square, a day after a gunman who had expressed hatred of Jews opened fire in the synagogue during Sabbath services, killing 11 people.
Francis prayed for the dead, the injured and their families. He says "all of us are wounded by this inhuman act of violence." He prayed for God "to help us to extinguish the flames of hatred that develop in our societies."
Francis has frequently spoken out against religiously inspired violence and has denounced the easy availability of guns, calling arms manufacturers the "merchants of death."
Pope Francis delivers his speech during a Mass for the closing of the synod of bishops in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
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Pope Francis delivers his speech during a Mass for the closing of the synod of bishops in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
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Pope Francis delivers his blessing from his studio window overlooking St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Francis is grieving with Pittsburgh's Jewish community following the massacre at a synagogue, denouncing the "inhuman act of violence" and praying for an end to the "flames of hatred" that fueled it. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
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Pope Francis delivers his blessing from his studio window overlooking St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Francis is grieving with Pittsburgh's Jewish community following the massacre at a synagogue, denouncing the "inhuman act of violence" and praying for an end to the "flames of hatred" that fueled it. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
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Pope Francis meets young people at the end of a Mass for the closing of the synod of bishops in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
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Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, delivers his speech at the end of a Mass celebrated by Pope Francis during for the closing of the synod of bishops in St. Peters's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
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Cardinals,, sitting in the two front rows from left wearing red caps, and bishops attend a Mass celebrated by Pope Francis for the closing of the month-long synod of bishops, inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (Claudio Peri/Pool Photo via AP)
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Cardinals, top with red cap, and bishops attend a Mass celebrated by Pope Francis for the closing of the month-long synod of bishops, inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (Claudio Peri/Pool Photo via AP)
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Pope Francis, standing top left, celebrates a Mass for the closing of the month-long synod of bishops, inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (Claudio Peri/Pool Photo via AP)
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A view of Pope Francis celebrating a Mass for the closing of the month-long synod of bishops, inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (Claudio Peri/Pool Photo via AP)
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A view of Pope Francis celebrating a Mass for the closing of the month-long synod of bishops, inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (Claudio Peri/Pool Photo via AP)
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Pope Francis caresses a child during a Mass for the closing of the synod of bishops in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
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Pope Francis celebrates a Mass for the closing of the synod of bishops in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
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Pope Francis celebrates a Mass for the closing of the synod of bishops in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
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Pope Francis celebrates a Mass for the closing of the synod of bishops in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
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Pope Francis celebrates a Mass for the closing of the synod of bishops in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
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A view St. Peter's Basilica as Pope Francis celebrates a Mass for the closing of the synod of bishops at the Vatican, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
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A view St. Peter's Basilica as Pope Francis celebrates a Mass for the closing of the synod of bishops at the Vatican, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
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A view St. Peter's Basilica as Pope Francis celebrates a Mass for the closing of the synod of bishops at the Vatican, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
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Pope Francis spreads incense as he celebrates a Mass for the closing of the synod of bishops in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
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A bishop films during Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican for the closing of the synod of bishops, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
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