ATTACK IN MOSCOW: MGR. PEZZI, “NEVER CHOOSE DEATH AS A SOLUTION”

The Russian Catholic community will gather this evening in St. Petersburg for a prayer vigil in remembrance of the victims of yesterday’s attack at Moscow’s Domodedovo airport to implore from God “the gift of peace there where it is threatened”. “Grief and sorrow” were expressed by Mgr. Paolo Pezzi, Metropolitan Archbishop of Mother of God in Moscow and new president of the Russian Bishops’ Conference, on behalf of all Catholics. He told SIR this morning: “This new attack on Domodedovo airport, Russia’s largest airport in terms of passenger numbers and flights, has filled us with a feeling of profound grief, and we cannot but strongly condemn this new and terrible act of violence. Our first thought goes to the victims. In moments like these, when death strikes unexpectedly, our certainty is that there, where no one can accompany us, Christ awaits us. This is our thought and prayer that we lift up for the victims in these days. We are still dismayed and puzzled at the way this act of violence was perpetrated, and so we pray to Our Lady that She may protect and help us all not to lose our reason and love for life, that we may never choose death as a solution”.

© SIR - jenuary 25th 2011