The Director of the Press Office of the Holy See, Fr Federico Lombardi SJ, has condemned Sunday’s coordinated attacks against Christian churches in the northern Kenyan town of Garissa, in which at least 17 people were killed and more than 60 others injured – the worst attack in the country since Kenya sent troops into Somalia to crush al Shabaab militants. Calling the attacks “horrible” and “deeply worrying,” Fr. Lombardi told Vatican Radio, “Violence against innocent people gathered peacefully in prayer, is unspeakably vile.” Fr. Lombardi also called for solidarity with the victims of these and all such attacks. “Beyond our closeness to the victims,” he said, “it is necessary to reaffirm and steadfastly to defend the religious liberty of Christians, and to oppose irresponsible acts that feed hatred among different religions.” Fr. Lombardi also called for renewed efforts to bring a lasting solution to the difficulties in Somalia, which are having regional repercussions.
Kenya attack