Vatican City, 15 July 2016 – Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, on behalf of the Holy Father, has sent a telegram to Bishop André Marceau of Nice, France, following last night's attack in the city in which 84 people lost their lives and more than one hundred were injured after being hit by a truck driven at full speed through a crowd attending a firework display to celebrate the French national holiday.

"As France was celebrating her national holiday, the country was again struck by blind violence, this time in Nice, claiming many victims, including children. Once again condemning such acts, His Holiness Pope Francis expresses his profound sadness and his spiritual closeness to the French people. He entrusts to the mercy of God those who have lost their life, and joins fully in the suffering of the families afflicted. He expresses his sympathy with the injured, as well as with all those who involved in the rescue efforts, and asks that the Lord support all of them in their grief. Imploring of God the gift of peace and harmony, he invokes divine blessings upon the mourning families and all France".

Early this morning the director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., declared that during the night the Vatican has "followed the terrible news from Nice with great concern", and expressed on behalf of the Holy Father "participation in and solidarity with the suffering of the victims and all the French people on what should have been a day of great celebration. We wholeheartedly condemn any expression of murderous folly, hatred, terrorism and any attack against peace".