The Catholic community in Makassar, Indonesia, was shaken after two suicide bombers attacked a cathedral on Palm Sunday.
The archbishop of Jakarta, Card. Ignatius Suharyo is grateful for the support shown by religious and government leaders, who condemned the brutal violence.
CARD. IGNATIUS SUHARYO
Archbishop of Jakarta (Indonesia)
“All expressed not only their sympathy and solidarity, but the sympathy and solidarity of the whole nation. The most comforting words came from Pope Francis, who prayed for the victims and for Indonesia during the Sunday Angelus on the same day.”
The cardinal explains that the government of Indonesia has done a lot to deradicalize violent groups, but that the result has not been as good as they had hoped.
CARD. IGNATIUS SUHARYO
Archbishop of Jakarta (Indonesia)
“The suicide bombers belong to a group of extremists, among several other extremists, affiliated with ISIS. So what message could we have for them? We just feel very sorry for their actions and hope that they are pardoned.”
Despite the attack, Holy Week celebrations in Makassar are expected to carry on as planned. The cardinal explains that in most of Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, different religious groups normally coexist in peace.
CT
