The Philippine Catholic Church on Wednesday expressed its sympathies and solidarity to the people of Belgium following the terrorist attacks in Brussels that took the lives of at least 34 people.
During the ceremonial opening of the “Jubilee Door of Mercy” at the Manila City Jail, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle urged Filipinos to pray for the victims of the bombings and for their families to feel the Lord’s mercy and compassion.
READ: 34 killed in 3 terror attacks in Brussels
“Kung nabalitaan ninyo kahapon, nagkaroon ng kahindik-hindik na terrorist attack sa Brussels, Belgium. Ano po, sa airport at tsaka doon sa train station, nakakalungkot po; meron po tayong kasamang pari na taga Belgium, si Father Luke, so tayo po… we want to express our solidarity with the people in Belgium. Si Father Gabby, dalawa nga pala sila father; we hope that God’s mercy, we call on God’s mercy for the people of Belgium,” Tagle said through church-run Radyo Veritas.
A series of seemingly coordinated explosions rocked the Zavenem Airport and a city metro station on Tuesday morning (3 p.m. in Manila), killing at least 34 and leaving more than 170 injured. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attacks.
READ: Islamic State claims it set off deadly bombings in Brussels
Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos, chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant Peoples of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, said the Filipino nation is one with the rest of the world in praying for the victims of the tragedy.
Santos added that terrorist groups should realize that violence and anger will not bring any good to the world aside from the death of innocent lives.
“Salamat naman sa Diyos at walang napahamak sa ating mga Pilipinong manggagawa doon at mga Pilipinong naninirahan doon sa Belgium. Subalit, tayo ay patuloy na nanalangin at ating ipinagkakatiwala sa Diyos sa kanyang kapangyarihan na baguhin ang pag-iisip at hipuin ang puso sa mga taong nagtatanim ng galit at poot sa daigdig,” Santos said.
“At mapagtanto nila na ang kapahamakan , ang karahasan ay walang idudulot na mabuti kundi patuloy na karahasan, kapahamakan at kamatayan,” he added.
Santos also urged overseas Filipino workers in Belgium to be more cautious of their surroundings following the attacks. JE
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