-
Vatican II, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World
79 “Governments cannot be denied the right of lawful self-defense, once all peace efforts have failed” -
Solicitudo Rei Socialis (Encyclical by Pope John Paul II)
24.4 “Nor may we close our eyes to another painful wound in today’s world: the phenomenon of terrorism, understood as the intention to kill people and destroy property indiscriminately and to create a climate of terror and insecurity, often including the taking of hostages. Even when some ideology or the desire to create a better society is adduced as the motivation for this inhuman behavior, acts of terrorism are never justifiable..." -
Catechism of The Catholic Church
2297 "Terrorism threatens, wounds, and kills indiscriminately; it is gravely against justice and charity."
2307 "The fifth commandment forbids the intentional destruction of human life. Because of the evils and injustices that accompany all war, the Church insistently urges everyone to prayer and to action so that the divine Goodness may free us from the ancient bondage of war." Paragraphs 2243 and 2309 speak on just war theory. -
Pope John Paul II Responds to 9/11
Pope John Paul II: “Yesterday was a dark day in the history of humanity, a terrible affront to human dignity... the heart of man is an abyss whence, at times, emerge acts of unspeakable ferocity.” -
Pope St. John Paul II message on 2002 World Day of Peace in Assisi
Pope St. John Paul II: “No religious leader can condone terrorism, and much less preach it.” -
Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
515 "it is a profanation and a blasphemy to declare oneself a terrorist in God’s name” -
Pope Benedict XVI Visits 9/11 Memorial
Pope Benedict XVI visited Ground Zero in New York to honour the victims of 9/11. “God of understanding,” he prayed, “overwhelmed by the magnitude of this tragedy, we seek your light and guidance as we confront such terrible events.” -
Pope Francis speaks in Apostolic visit to Turkey Religious Leaders
“As religious leaders, we are obliged to denounce all violations against human dignity and human rights. Human life, a gift of God the Creator, possesses a sacred character. As such, any violence which seeks religious justification warrants the strongest condemnation because the Omnipotent is the God of life and peace.” -
Pope Francis visits 9/11 memorial
Pope Francis lays a white rose on the edge of the pool at the 9/11 memorial site. He holds an interreligious meeting where he says the words: “This place of death became a place of life too... it is a hymn to the triumph of life over the prophets of destruction and death, to goodness over evil, to reconciliation and unity over hatred and division.” -
Pope Francis responds to Paris terrorist attacks
On Nov 15, Pope Francis said: “I am close to the people of France, to the families of the victims, and I am praying for all of them.” “...[terrorism is] an unspeakable attack on the dignity of the human person.” “the path of violence and hatred does not resolve the problems of humanity... the use of God’s name to justify this path is a blasphemy." -
Cardinal DiNardo responds to Sri Lankan explosions of Churches and Luxury Hotels.
President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops states: “This morning in Sri Lanka a coordinated series of bombings killed hundreds of worshipers in Catholic Churches and others of all faiths in nearby hotels. The Churches were St. Sebastian’s Church in Negombo, St. Anthony’s Shrine in Colombo and Zion Church in the eastern city of Batticaloa...”
