Posted June 30, 2016

Once again, the global community has been confronted with extreme violence committed by those who spread terror through evil.

Each life senselessly extinguished in Istanbul was a unique gift from God who filled family, friends, and loved ones with joy. Those precious gifts have been tragically stolen from all who are now in mourning and bearing immense burdens of sorrow and pain.

Istanbul now suffers as Orlando, San Bernardino, Brussels, and Paris have done in recent months. I ask the clergy and people of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to pray in a special way in the coming days for all those affected by the tragedy in Turkey.

May God shower his grace upon them and bring peace to our troubled world.

+Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
Archbishop of Philadelphia