Pope Francis was immediately alerted of a double suicide bombing that left 14 injured outside of a cathedral in Makassar, Indonesia.
POPE FRANCIS
Let us pray for all of the victims of violence, especially for those of this morning’s attack in Indonesia, outside of the cathedral of Makassar.
Security cameras captured the moment of the attack.
All suggest the terrorists sought to enter the church during the Palm Sunday Mass to cause as much damage as possible.
At the Angelus, the Pope also recalled that this year features another special Holy Week.
POPE FRANCIS
It is the second time we live [Holy Week] in the context of the pandemic. Last year we were in shock, this year we are more tired. And the economic crisis has worsened.
Pope Francis urged the world to look at this difficult moment with eyes filled with faith, just as Jesus looked at his Passion and Death.
POPE FRANCIS
Along the Way of the Cross we live each day, we meet the faces of many brothers and sisters in hardship. Let us not pass them by, let our hearts feel compassion and let us draw ourselves near them.
This year the Pope is again celebrating Holy Week ceremonies in a chapel within St. Peter’s Basilica.
Last year, however, the Pope was virtually alone during the ceremonies, while this year a larger number of pilgrims and all of the cardinals in Rome will be allowed to attend.
JMB
TR: JM