Courtney McGrailIrish couple saved ‘by the grace of God’
Mags Gargan and Cathal Barry
Pope Francis wants a ‘spiritual mobilisation’ against terror, according to one of his most senior advisers.
In the wake of the Islamist terrorist attacks on Paris at the weekend, the Pontiff sees the ‘Year of Mercy’ as an even more vital part of the Church’s outreach.
According to Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Pope’s chief diplomat, Francis believes that “in this world torn by violence, now is the right time to launch an offensive of mercy”.
It comes as the girlfriend of the Irishman who was shot in the attacks and survived has said it is “by the grace of God” that they are alive.
Katie Healy was in the Bataclan concert hall with her boyfriend David Nolan when so-called Islamic State militants killed 89 people there. She told RTÉ radio that it was “by the grace of God” that a doctor who could tend to David’s wounds was in the apartment block that they took refuge in after the attack.
“We are beyond lucky,” she said.
Cardinal Parolin said that it is “understandable that after the attacks there are feelings of revenge,” however, he said “we must fight against this urge. The Pope wants the Jubilee [of Mercy] to help people see eye-to-eye, understand one another, and overcome hatred.
“After these attacks, this goal is strengthened,” Cardinal Parolin said.
The Vatican Secretary of State described the ‘Year of Mercy’ as the perfect opportunity to mobilise “all spiritual resources to provide a positive response to evil”.
“What is needed is a general mobilisation of France, of Europe, and of the whole world. A mobilisation of all means of security, of police forces, and of information, to root out this evil of terrorism. But also a mobilisation which would involve all spiritual resources to provide a positive response to evil,” he said.
Asked if the Pope still upholds his earlier comments that the use of force is “licit to stop the unjust aggressor”, Cardinal Parolin said: “Yes, because blind violence is intolerable, whatever its origin may be.”
Meanwhile, Irish priests working in Paris have said that despite a “palpable sense of grief” and underlining fear, Parisians are trying to return to normality.
Fr Dwayne Gavin, chaplain to the Irish community in Paris said people “are afraid on the streets because nobody knows what’s going to happen next” but “I think people are trying to get on with their lives as best as they can”.
Fr Aidan Troy, a Passionist priest based in St Joseph’s Church near the Eiffel Tower, said the terrorist attacks will “change the way of life here in the short term, but God only knows what the longer term is going to be”.