The pope condemns massacre in Egypt "vile gesture, an offense against humanity"

ROME - The attack against the Coptic Christian community in Egypt was "a cowardly act of death" that "offends God and humanity." The strong condemnation from Pope Benedict XVI is back at the end of the Angelus on Sunday, on the massacre carried out in the New Year's Eve in Alexandria, Egypt. "Yesterday morning - said the pontiff - have learned with sorrow the news of the serious attack against the Coptic Christian community made in Alexandria, Egypt.

This cowardly act of death, how to make bombs now close to the homes of Christians in Iraq to force them to leave, offended God and mankind, who yesterday prayed for peace and began a new year with hope. " "Before this strategy of violence that has targeted Christians, and has consequences for the whole population - concluded the pope - I pray for the victims and family members, church communities and encourage them to persevere in faith and witness to non-violence that comes from the gospel.

I think to the many pastoral workers killed in 2010 in various parts of the world to them is also our loving remembrance before the Lord. " After the dramatic suicide attack on 31 December, the Egyptian authorities have imposed increased security around all churches in the country, after the tragic suicide of midnight on December 31, which caused 21 deaths and nearly 100 wounded in front of a church Coptic Alexandria, the Interior Ministry has deployed more security officers, even undercover, have been set up checkpoints in all provinces and was forbidden to park the car near the church.

According to media reports, hundreds of suspects were arrested in the south of the country, authorities pointed the finger at Al Qaeda. For the site Ynet, the website of Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, there would be a vindication of terrorist by an Egyptian group linked to terror network of Osama bin Laden: "Every devout Muslim has to show solidarity with the ' attack on the church full of believers who celebrate Christmas, "said Al-Mujahideen group in a statement echoed by Ynet.

The Minister of Education Ahmed Zaki Badr has meanwhile ordered all schools and universities today to honor the victims with a minute of silence. Teachers were asked to underline the importance of unity among all the Egyptians and to highlight the array "terrorist, non-sectarian" of the suicide attack.

Coptic Christians account for 10 percent of the Egyptian population. Already yesterday, in condemning the attack, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak urged "the sons of Egypt, Copts and Muslims to stay united in the face of terrorist threat. In a televised address to the nation, Mubarak accused "foreign elements" have taken a direct attack against the entire country and not just the Christian minority.

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