BY Martin Dunlop | May 2 2011 | 
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Reflection, not rejoicing, over Bin Laden’s death
Publication Date: 2011-05-02
The Vatican has said that the death of Osama Bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda, should bring a period of reflection about one’s responsibility before God, not rejoicing.
Speaking today—after US President Barack Obama announced that US forces had killed the mastermind behind the September 11 2001 terrorist attacks in the US in an attack on his hideout in northwest Pakistan—Fr Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, said that a Christian should never rejoice at the death of another man.
“Osama Bin Laden—as we all know—was gravely responsible,” Fr Lombardi said. “Faced with the death of a man, a Christian never rejoices, but reflects on the serious responsibility of each and every one of us before God and before man.”
Some Americans took to the streets of New York in celebration (above) at President Obama’s announcement. Christian leaders in countries with large Islamic populations have issued warnings to local Christians to be on their guard for fear of retaliation.
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And what was Vice-President Biden doing while watching the action in Pakistan? Saying his Rosary.