The Bishop of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has called for a week of prayer, fasting and reflection after the deaths of three police officers on Sunday.
The murders, by lone gunman Gavin Long, who was shot dead at the scene, were the latest in a series of police killings across America.
Bishop Robert Muench urged all to “work toward a lasting peace in our communities”.
“Words cannot express the emotions we feel for those who have lost loved ones in the tragic events of this day,” Bishop Muench said in a statement. “Their entire lives have been unexpectedly and terribly turned upside down.”
He said he and the diocese’s vicar general, Fr Tom Ranzino, visited two of the families affected by the shootings later that afternoon to share “prayer and support in the midst of their shock, horror and grief”.
“Prayer is a powerful path to follow when tragedy happens, but even the most devout of us sometime question: ‘What good could come of this?’” the bishop said.
“Only the word of God has the answer to the questions that shake our faith: the answer is our Lord Jesus Christ.
“In Jesus, hope ultimately triumphs over despair; love ultimately triumphs over hate; and resurrection ultimately triumphs over death.” In the neighbouring Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, Bishop Shelton Fabre said that “our tears are still falling and our fresh and fervent prayers are still ascending to God” over the earlier loss of life in Louisiana – the fatal shooting of Alton Sterling by police. “As a ... priest of the Diocese of Baton Rouge for 17 years, I feel a deep ache in my heart because of recent violence that has happened there,” said Bishop Fabre in a reflection that was posted on Facebook.
Pope surprises Vatican staff by turning up at their office
Members of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America were holding their daily staff meeting when an unexpected visitor came to their door: Pope Francis.The Pope made a surprise visit to the commission’s office while staff members were coordinating the upcoming Continental Jubilee of Mercy celebration in Bogotá, Colombia.
According to the commission’s website, a staff member opened the door and was stunned “when she found herself in front of none other than the vicar of Christ on earth who, nonetheless, seemed to make a completely natural and routine .”
“Good morning. May I come in?” the Pope said. He had a private meeting with the commission’s secretary, Dr Guzmán Carriquiry, before staying for a coffee with staff and posing for photos. The Pope told commission officials that his security personnel that advised him that such a visit would be “very complicated”.
According to the commission’s website Pope Francis responded: “‘I am the Pope. Don’t worry, we are in God’s hands’”.
