The pastors of the Church in Spain are following with heartfelt emotion and consternation the terrible news being transmitted from the United States.

We feel deep in our souls the deaths of so many innocent people and we condemn, in the name of God and the Gospel, these terrorist attacks, whomever and whatever their authors and objectives may be, which have caused so much desolation and grief in your country and around the world.

We feel fraternally united with the pastors and the faithful of the Catholic Church in the United States and all men and women of good will who are weeping for this tragedy.

We wish to express to you our condolences, closeness and solidarity. We entrust the eternal rest of the victims to God. We also pray that our Lord grant solace to those who were affected by subsequent attacks. And also we pray to our God of Peace for the cessation of this violence and that it not generate new violent acts.

As we ask all Christian communities in the Church of Spain to join us in prayer, I take this sad circumstance to express to your Excellency, on behalf of all Spanish bishops, our fraternal and loving communion.

Cardinal Antonio María Rouco Varela
Archbishop of Madrid
President