Scottish Catholic Observer

Addressing thousands of people in St Peter’s Square this morning, Pope Francis said Pakistan had been ‘bloodied by a hideous attack that massacred so many innocent people, mostly families of the Christian minority.’

The Lahore bombing, which was claimed by a breakaway Taliban faction that has publicly supported the Islamic State group, took place in a park, crowded with many families with children celebrating the holiday on Sunday. Many women and children were killed and at least 300 people were wounded.

The Pope said the attack was ‘a vile and senseless crime’ and urged the Pakistani Government to do more to protect Christians.

“I appeal to civil authorities and all sectors of that nation to make every effort to restore security and serenity to the population, and in particular to the most vulnerable religious minorities,” he said.

Ahsanullah Ahsan, a spokesman for the breakaway Taliban faction Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, told The Associated Press that the suicide bomber deliberately targeted the Christian community celebrating Easter. Mr Ahsan said the attack also meant to protest against Pakistan’s military operation in the tribal regions. The same militant group also took responsibility for the twin bombings of a Christian church in Lahore last year

Even though the bombing targeted mainly Christians, most of those killed in Lahore were Muslims, who were also in the park on Easter Sunday. Of the dead, 14 have been identified as Christians, according to Lahore police. Another 12 bodies have not yet been identified.

Pic: Relatives cry during the yesterday’s funeral of victims of the Easter bomb attack at a park in Lahore, Pakistan. Pope Francis appealed to the government of Pakistan to take steps to ensure the safety of the country’s Christians and other minorities.

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