Pubblichiamo di seguito il telegramma di cordoglio che Giovanni Paolo II ha fatto pervenire, tramite il Segretario di Stato, il Cardinale Angelo Sodano, al Nunzio Apostolico in Pakistan, S.E. Mons. Alessandro D’Errico, per le vittime della strage - avvenuta questa mattina - nel corso della celebrazione della Santa Messa nella Chiesa cristiana della città di Bahawalpur in Pakistan:

HIS HOLINESS POPE JOHN PAUL II HAS LEARNED WITH THE DEEPEST SADNESS ABOUT THE TERRIBLE VIOLENCE IN A CATHOLIC CHURCH AT BAHAWALPUR IN THE DIOCESE OF MULTAN WHEN A GROUP OF ARMED MEN FIRED ON CHRISTIANS GATHERED THERE IN PRAYER. EXPRESSING HIS ABSOLUTE CONDEMNATION OF THIS FURTHER TRAGIC ACT OF INTOLERANCE HIS HOLINESS ASKS YOUR EXCELLENCY TO CONVEY HIS HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS WHOM HE COMMENDS TO THE LORD. HE EXPRESSES HIS PRAYERFUL CLOSENESS TO ALL AFFECTED BY THIS EVIL ACT AND AS A PLEDGE OF COMFORT AND STRENGTH HE INVOKES UPON THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY THE BLESSINGS OF ALMIGHTY GOD.

CARDINAL ANGELO SODANO
SECRETARY OF STATE

[01737-02.01] [Original text: English]