Acta Apostolicae Sedis - Commentarium Officiale680

NUNTIUS

Ad Venerabilem Fratrem Reverendissimum Timotheum M. Dolan Praesidem

Conferentiae Episcopalis Foederatarum Civitatum Americae Septentrionalis.

To my Venerable Brother

The Most Reverend Timothy M. Dolan

President United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

On this day my thoughts turn to the somber events of September 11,

2001, when so many innocent lives were lost in the brutal assault on the twin

towers of the World Trade Center and the further attacks in Washington

D.C. and Pennsylvania. I join you in commending the thousands of victims

to the infinite mercy of Almighty God and in asking our heavenly Father to

continue to console those who mourn the loss of loved ones.

The tragedy of that day is compounded by the perpetrators' claim to be

acting in God's name. Once again, it must be unequivocally stated that no

circumstances can ever justify acts of terrorism. Every human life is precious

in God's sight and no effort should be spared in the attempt to promote

throughout the world a genuine respect for the inalienable rights and dignity

of individuals and peoples everywhere.

The American people are to be commended for the courage and generosity

that they showed in the rescue operations and for their resilience in moving

forward with hope and confidence. It is my fervent prayer that a firm

commitment to justice and a global culture of solidarity will help rid the

world of the grievances that so often give rise to acts of violence and will

create the conditions for greater peace and prosperity, offering a brighter and

more secure future.

With these sentiments, I extend my most affectionate greetings to you,

your brother Bishops and all those entrusted to your pastoral care, and

I gladly impart my Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of peace and serenity

in the Lord.

From the Vatican, September 11, 2011.

BENEDICTUS PP. XVI