Full Focus

Storm chaser videographer and photographer Brad Mack records a tornado near a home in South Haven, in Kansas May 19, 2013. A massive storm front swept north through the central United States on Sunday, hammering the region with fist-sized hail, blinding rain and tornadoes, including a half-mile wide twister that struck near Oklahoma City. News reports said at least one person had died. REUTERS/Gene Blevins

Editor's choice

Our top photos from the past week.   Slideshow 

Pictures

Photo

Reuters Photojournalism

Our day's top images, in-depth photo essays and offbeat slices of life. See the best of Reuters photography.  See more | Photo caption 

Photo

Tornado chasers

Storm chasers brave danger and debris as they try to capture photos of tornadoes' destructive power.  Slideshow 

Photo

Running while blind

Blind or visually impaired students compete in blind track and field tournament.  Slideshow 

Sponsored Links

Pope condemns "ferocious" attack on Baghdad church

Factbox

Related Topics

VATICAN CITY | Mon Nov 1, 2010 7:41am EDT

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict condemned an attack in which 52 people were killed in a Catholic church in Baghdad, saying the violence was all the more ferocious because innocent people were killed in a house of God.

Speaking to pilgrims gathered to hear his prayer in St Peter's Square for the Catholic All Saints' Day holiday, the pope also made a heartfelt appeal for peace in the Middle East.

"I pray for the victims of this senseless violence, made even more ferocious because it struck defenseless people who were gathered in the house of God, which is a house of love and reconciliation," he said.

Fifty-two hostages and police officers were killed when security forces raided a Baghdad church to free more than 100 Iraqi Catholics captured by al Qaeda-linked gunmen.

The gunmen took hostages gathered for Sunday mass at the Our Lady of Salvation Church, one of Baghdad's largest, and demanded the release of al Qaeda prisoners in Iraq and Egypt.

The pope urged the international community to work for comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

"May everyone join forces to put an end to violence," he said from his window overlooking the square.

Iraq's Christian minority has frequently been targeted by militants, with churches bombed and priests assassinated.
World
We welcome comments that advance the story through relevant opinion, anecdotes, links and data. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. For more information on our comment policy, see http://blogs.reuters.com/fulldisclosure/2010/09/27/toward-a-more-thoughtful-conversation-on-stories/
Comments (11)
Frank95054 wrote:
The murder of innocents by followers of Islam demonstrate the fallacy of this belief system because of its recurring violation of God’s 10 commandments. Number 6: You shall not murder!

Nov 01, 2010 8:29am EDT  --  Report as abuse
ImamFaisal wrote:
This hostage taking is a grave violation of Islamic Law. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, “Do not attack churches, do not harm women and children, do not harm those working in the fields,” when he addressed the army. Suicide is also sternly prohibited by the Qur’an: “Do not kill yourselves.”

At the same time, captives are to be treated kindly and not harmed. They should be fed and clothed properly.

Nov 01, 2010 8:51am EDT  --  Report as abuse
BHOlied wrote:
@ImamFaisal

Then why do so many violate these teachings in the name of Islamic Law?

Why do they hide and fight from churches. Why do they hide behind women and children and murder their own?

Answer these questions and then I will start to believe Islam is a peaceful religion

Nov 01, 2010 11:24am EDT  --  Report as abuse
This discussion is now closed. We welcome comments on our articles for a limited period after their publication.
See All Comments »