Pope Francis offers condolences to victims of New Orleans massacre

Pope Francis has sent a telegram offering his condolences over the deaths of at least 15 people who were killed during a terrorist attack in New Orleans. The attack occurred in the early hours of New Year’s Day while people were out celebrating in Louisiana’s famous party-going city. The 2 January telegram, which was signed The post Pope Francis offers condolences to victims of New Orleans massacre first appeared on Catholic Herald. The post Pope Francis offers condolences to victims of New Orleans massacre appeared first on Catholic Herald.

Jan 4, 2025 - 04:00

Pope Francis offers condolences to victims of New Orleans massacre

Pope Francis has sent a telegram offering his condolences over the deaths of at least 15 people who were killed during a terrorist attack in New Orleans. The attack occurred in the early hours of New Year’s Day while people were out celebrating in Louisiana’s famous party-going city.

The 2 January telegram, which was signed by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and addressed to Archbishop Gregory Aymond of New Orleans, states that the Pope is “deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury caused by the attack that took place in New Orleans”.

The telegram continues: “In assuring the entire community of his spiritual closeness, His Holiness commends the souls of those who have died to the loving mercy of almighty God and prays for the healing and consolation of the injured and bereaved.”

The Pope also gave his blessing to all those impacted by the attack, offering “a pledge of peace and strength in the Lord”.

On 1 January, in the early hours of New Year’s Day, a suspect identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove a pick-up truck around barriers and into a crowd of people celebrating the New Year before jumping out of his vehicle and opening fire on bystanders, killing at least 15 and injuring dozens of others.

Jabbar, who reportedly recently declared loyalty to ISIS, was killed in a police shootout that followed the attack. Two police officers were injured during the exchange of gunfire with Jabbar, a US Army veteran.

The FBI declared the incident to be an act of terrorism – police reportedly found an ISIS flag in the attacker’s vehicle – and said that Jabbar was likely not “solely responsible” for the attack.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has subsequently stated that she can say “with some certainty that there are multiple people who are involved”, reports the BBC.

The FBI has also said they are investigating a potential link between the New Orleans attack and the explosion on 1 January of a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas. The explosion killed one person and injured several others.

Photo: A man passes the Place de Henriette Delille beside Saint Louis Cathedral, following the terrorist attack that occurred early in the morning in the French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1 January 2025. Henriette DeLille was a Catholic religious sister who founded the Sisters of the Holy Family in 1836. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images.)