Pubblichiamo di seguito il telegramma di cordoglio del Santo Padre che il Cardinale Angelo Sodano, Segretario di Stato, ha inviato, tramite S.E Mons. Celestino Migliore, Osservatore Permanente della Santa Sede presso l’ONU, al Segretario Generale delle Nazioni Unite, Kofi Annan, per l’esplosione avvenuta ieri alla sede dell’ONU a Baghdad:

MR. KOFI ANNAN
SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATION
NEW YORK

DEEPLY SADDENED TO LEARN OF THE EXPLOSION WHICH OCCURRED TODAY AT THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATION IN BAGHDAD OCCASIONING INJURY AND LOSS OF LIFE, HIS HOLINESS POPE JOHN PAUL II SENDS HIS CONDOLENCES TO YOU, TO ALL WHO WORK FOR THE ORGANIZATION AND TO THE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF THOSE WHO DIED.
HE OFFERS FERVENT PRAYERS FOR THE VICTIMS AND ASKS ALMIGHTY GOD TO COMFORT THOSE WHO MOURN AT THIS TIME OF TRAGIC LOSS. IMPLORING ALL INVOLVED IN PERPETRATING ACTS OF VIOLENCE TO ABANDON THE WAYS OF HATRED, HIS HOLINESS PRAYS THAT THE PATH OF RECONCILIATION WILL PREVAIL AND THAT THE PEOPLE OF IRAQ WILL KNOW A NEW ERA OF PEACE, JUSTICE AND SOCIAL HARMONY.

CARDINAL ANGELO SODANO

SECRETARY OF STATE

[01295-02.01] [Original text: English]