Vatican “not rejoicing” over death of Osama Bin Laden
For Father Lombardi, director of the Press Office, the leader of Al Qaeda spread “division and hatred between peoples,” but ” Faced with the death of a man, a Christian never rejoices” and will not create “further growth of hatred. ” In the U.S. people continue to celebrate the death of Osama. In Pakistan, a newspaper quotes only a fraction of Vatican statement: to highlight the hatred of bin Laden.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) – ” Faced with the death of a man, a Christian never rejoices,” and will not create ” an opportunity for further growth of hatred ” is the comment of the Vatican press office on news of the death of Osama Bi Laden. In an official statement to reporters, the director Fr. Federico Lombardi, said the ” Osama bin Laden – as we all know – was gravely responsible for promoting division and hatred between peoples, causing the death of countless innocent lives, and of exploiting religions to this end”.
He added: ” Faced with the death of a man, a Christian never rejoices, but reflects on the serious responsibility of each and every one of us before God and before man, and hopes and commits himself so that no event be an opportunity for further growth of hatred, but for peace”.
The comment of Fr Lombardi comes as news of young Americans’ celebrations outside the White House in Washington. Even U.S., European and international politicians applaud the result of American anti- terrorist operations in Pakistan.
In the country, afraid of violent reactions of revenge by extremist groups security at government offices and churches has been strengthened.
The Pakistani newspaper The News reported today on its website only part of the Vatican statement, saying: “The Vatican said that” Osama Bin Laden was gravely responsible for promoting division and hatred between peoples”. No word on the Vatican’s call “not to rejoice” over the death of a man, or create opportunities for “further growth of hate”.