Scottish Catholic Observer

Pope Benedict XVI has responded to the terrorist attacks in Norway, which left dozens dead, by calling for an end to hatred and ideologies that promote evil.

Pope Benedict said Friday’s bombing and shooting spree—believed to be the work of Anders Behring Breivik and resulting in 76 deaths—have dismayed the entire world.

In Scotland, Cardinal Keith O’Brien and Bishop Peter Moran of Aberdeen led tributes to the Norwegian people, assuring them that the bonds between our two countries are stronger than ever as the Scandinavians struggle to come to terms with the worst violence on their soil since the end of the Second World War.

Vatican sorrow

“We are all deeply saddened by the serious terrorist acts,” the Holy Father said while at the Papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo on Sunday.

He then appealed for humanity ‘to abandon once and for all the path of violence and avoid principles of evil.’

As a further expression of his condolences and prayers for those affected by the attacks, the Pope sent a message to Norway’s King Harald V saying that he was praying for all those affected by ‘the acts of senseless violence.’

The Holy Father asked that the country ‘be spiritually united in a determined resolve to reject the ways of hatred and conflict and to work together fearlessly in shaping a future of mutual respect, solidarity and freedom for coming generations.’

Scottish support

Cardinal O’Brien, president of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, also expressed his condolences and those of the Scottish people in a letter to Bishop Bernt Ivar Eidsvig of Oslo.

“I write to you on behalf of the Catholic Community in Scotland to express our deep sympathy with you and with all of your people in Norway, following on the recent terrorist attacks, which took place in your country,” he wrote. “We watched with sorrow and a deep sense of disbelief last Friday, through the media witnessing the explosion of the car bomb in Oslo and the shootings at the youth camp on the island of Utoya.”

The cardinal said that the people of Scotland and Norway had long been bound together by friendship.

“There have been close ties of friendship between Norway and Scotland over many years and, consequently, the reality of the horror became a reality in our lives also,” he added. “We have been moved by the courage of the survivors, while in deep sympathy with all who have been bereaved—and praying that all who have died will have eternal rest with the God of all peace.”

The cardinal added that Scots would do whatever they could to help Norway heal the wounds it had sustained.

“May the people of your country be united at this time of national grief, continuing to work together to ensure that in whatever way possible, such tragedies never happen again in your country or in any other country in our world,” he wrote.

Bishop Moran added: “As the full extent and horror of the slaughter in Oslo becomes clear, I join the many voices expressing deep sympathy and promising prayers for all who have suffered or are grieving.

“We in the Diocese of Aberdeen perhaps feel more closely touched by these events, since Shetland, part of this diocese, has such close links with Norway across the North Sea.

“As the massacre unfolded many young Norwegians were guests in Lerwick, a staging-port in the Tall Ships event, and we grieve with them as they sail home to confront the sorrow there.”

Norway’s wounds

Bishop Eidsvig said this week that Norway has united in mourning for the victims and was still in shock over the killings.

“It has affected every one of us,” he said. “Despite political differences or other differences, this is a tragedy. We do not know anything like it in our history, that 100 people are killed in cold blood. So it is creating unity, and in spite of the grief, also strength.”

He added that people were shocked the prime suspect  behind the attacks was Norwegian. “Of course in all countries, there are disturbed and misled persons,” he said. “I am quite sure he is one of them. He must be mentally disturbed. I don’t think ideology is sufficient to explain this.”

Suspect

The man Norwegian police have in custody, Mr Breivik, 32, has admitted being behind the explosives that ripped through Norwegian Government headquarters in Oslo on July 22, leaving seven people dead and dozens injured. Shortly after the bombing, witnesses said a man dressed as a police officer shot at people attending a summer youth camp run by the country’s governing Labor Party on the island of Utoya. Mr Brevik has also admitted he was the shooter on the island. The total death toll in the two attacks is now thought to be 76.

The suspect is believed to have links to far-right groups and to have produced materials espousing anti-Muslim and anti-immigration views, and a desire to bring about a revolution against the government in Norway.

Prayer

In the aftermath of the attack, Norway has held torchlit processions in towns and cities across the country to remember the victims and services have been held around the world.

Crown Prince Haakon told 100,000 people gathered in Oslo on Monday night (right) that ‘tonight the streets are filled with love.’

Fr Pål Bratbak, a spokesman for the Catholic Church in Norway, described the Square outside the Lutheran Cathedral in Oslo as having being turned ‘into a sea of flowers, candles, messages and greetings to the victims.’

All over the world there have been memorial services for those killed in the attacks including in the Shetland Islands, which historically had had close links to Norway as only 200 miles of sea separate them.

In Lerwick an open-air church service brought together local people, visitors and those taking part in the Tall Ships Race last Sunday, among them many Norwegians, in prayer for those who had been killed.

Aubrey Jamieson, superintendent for the Fisherman’s Mission, led the prayers.

“There were so many Norwegian sailors here as part of the Tall Ships celebration, so that very much brought it even closer to home,” Mr Jamieson said.

He added that: “We very much wanted to pray for them this morning to remember those that have been bereaved and those that have been injured as a result of this terrible event.”