Pope sends prayers

Through the bishop of Richmond, Virginia, Pope Benedict sent his condolences and offered his prayers for the victims of the shooting violence at Virginia Tech yesterday.

Deeply saddened by news of the shooting at Virginia Tech, his holiness Pope Benedict XVI has asked me to convey the assurance of his heartfelt prayers for the victims, their families and for the entire school community. In the aftermath of this senseless tragedy he asks God our father to console all those who mourn and to grant them that spiritual strength which triumphs over violence by the power of forgiveness, hope and reconciling love.

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone

Secretary of State

Thinking of how radical that idea is of reconciling forgiveness with such stunning violence, I recalled the exquisite grace the Amish people showed when visited by a similar outburst in their peaceful community. The AP carried this note at the time:

The wife of a gunman who killed five girls and injured five others at an Amish school released a statement thanking the Amish and others in the Lancaster County community for their “forgiveness, grace and mercy.”

In the letter, released Friday by a family spokesman and addressed to Amish friends, neighbors and the local community, Marie Roberts says she and her three young children have been overwhelmed by the community support since the Oct. 2 shootings.

“Your love for our family has helped to provide the healing we so desperately need,” she wrote. “Gifts you’ve given have touched our hearts in a way no words can describe. … Your compassion has reached beyond our family, beyond our community, and is changing our world, and for this we sincerely thank you.”

As hard as it can be at times like this to fathom, love is stronger than death, as Benedict reminded the world on Easter.