TELEGRAM FOR YESTERDAY'S ATTACKS IN ISTANBUL

VATICAN CITY, NOV 21, 2003 (VIS) - Yesterday Cardinal Angelo Sodano sent a telegram of condolence in the Holy Father's name to the Recep Tayyip Erdogan, prime minister of Turkey, upon the news of yesterday's terrorist attacks in Istanbul in which many were killed and wounded:

In the telegram, John Paul II expresses his deepest condolences as well as his spiritual closeness to the Turkish nation and to the families of the victims. He asks the Lord to welcome the deceased into His kingdom and to grant strength and courage to the injured, their families and those who are involved in the clean-up efforts. 'The Pope makes yet another appeal,' reads the text, 'in which he condemns terrorist activity which gravely affects innocent populations. Homicidal violence constitutes contempt for people and offends humanity. Dialogue is the only dignified way for human beings to deal with tensions that pit people and human groups against each other. The Holy Father asks God, All-powerful, to enlighten the consciences of those who are involved in terrorism so that they themselves set out courageously on the path of peace.'

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