From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Mar 29: Bangalore Archdiocese’s Archbishop Most Rev Dr Bernard Moras and all the Bishops of Karnataka have expressed their deep sense of pain and anguish at the terrible bomb blast at Lahore in Pakistan on Easter Sunday, which claimed the lives of more than 60 persons and injured over 220 persons.

"It was the inhuman task of a 20-year-old suicide bomber, who placed the explosives in the holiday park outside Lahore targeting children and women particularly. It was the festival crowd that bore the brunt and we regret this inhuman act. With the many dead, several Christians too have been the victims,’’ said the Archbishop, who is also the president of the Karnataka Region Catholic Bishops’ Council (KRCBC).

"This beastly event goes along with the killing of the four religious sisters and kidnapping of a missionary priest Fr Thomas, SDB whose whereabouts are still uncertain. The world is indeed seeking for the safe return of this priest in the midst of unwanted rumours and we extend our prayers along with the entire world community that he may come back to us safe and sound,’’ the Archbishop said.

The Lahore blasts on Easter Sunday, following the blasts of Brussels in Belgium Airport and Railway station, the blasts of France that took away so many lives, the massacre and refugee problems of Africa are still fresh before us.,’’ the Archbishop said wishing, "May the Lord of peace rule us and his peace and hope remain with us.’’

"We, the KRCBC, as a body strongly condemn this inhuman act of violence and destruction that has brought unrest in the world,’’ the Archbishop said extending sympathies to the members of the bereaved families and those who are suffering because of this act of inhuman persons. 

He also said: "We pray for the family of Fr Thomas, SDB and the Salesian Community that their uncertainty may come to an end. We pray to the merciful God that he may change the hearts of these cruel persons and make them gentle like His own heart.’’