Paris attack is a “piecemeal World War III” says Pope Francis

The Vatican Radio reported that in a telephone interview on Saturday with the Italian Bishops’ Conference official television network – TV2000 – Pope Francis said the attacks are “not human”. “And I don’t understand, but these things are hard to understand; they are carried out by human beings”, he said.

When asked if this is part of the “piecemeal Third World War” the Holy Father has mentioned many times before, Pope Francis said “this is a piece of it”, adding “there is no religious or human justification for it”.

“I wish to express my pain for the terrorist attacks that on late Friday evening stained France with blood, causing numerous victims”, said the pontiff, speaking slowly at the end of his weekly Angelus address in St. Peter’s Square. Leading the faithful in the recitation of the Hail Mary, he prayed that Mary, the Mother of Mercy, would inspire all our hearts with wisdom and peace.

After the deadly attacks in Paris claimed by Islamic State militants, Pope Francis said on Sunday that using God’s name to justify violence was sacrilege.

Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois of Paris issued a statement calling for calm and for prayers, not only for the Paris victims, but also for the victims of recent terrorist attacks in Lebanon and in Africa.

The BBC reports that French president Francois Hollande has called the attacks “an act of war” by ISIS. “We must never lose our hope for peace if we work for justice”. “We stand in solidarity with the French”. The French prelate called for people to not give in to panic or hatred.

The Pope’s comments come in wake of the worst terrorist attack Europe has seen since the Madrid train bombings of 2004, when Islamic extremists killed 191 people. “Let us ask for the grace of being peacemakers”.

“These murderers, possessed by a crazed hatred, are justly called terrorists because they want to spread terror”, Lombadi said.

Because of this, our main concern shouldn’t be how or when the signs will occur, but rather to be ready, and focused on how we should live and act today, he said.