Scottish Catholic Observer

Vatican spokesman the Jesuit Federico Lombardi said in a statement that the Pontiff denounces the ‘senseless hatred’ of the shooting at the Pulse nightclub in the early hours of Sunday morning.

“The terrible massacre that has taken place in Orlando, with its dreadfully high number of innocent victims, has caused in Pope Francis, and in all of us, the deepest feelings of horror and condemnation, of pain and turmoil before this new manifestation of homicidal folly and senseless hatred,” the statement said. “Pope Francis joins the families of the victims and all of the injured in prayer and in compassion. Sharing in their indescribable suffering he entrusts them to the Lord so they may find comfort.”

He added: “We all hope that ways may be found, as soon as possible, to effectively identify and contrast the causes of such terrible and absurd violence which so deeply upsets the desire for peace of the American people and of the whole of humanity.”

Omar Mateen, 29, has been named as the perpetrator of the attack on the gay nightclub. He was killed by members of the police SWAT team that entered the building.

Police said Mateen, a private security guard, legally purchased the two guns he used in the shooting, which is the deadliest mass shooting in US history.

ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack, however its level of involvement has not been confirmed.