Pope Francis expressed his deep sadness over the deaths in a shooting in California through a telegram signed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State.The Holy Father stated that he had “received with sadness the news of the shooting that occurred in Monterey Park.”
On 25 January, the Holy Father addressed Mons. José Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles, through the telegram broadcast, expressed his spiritual closeness to all those affected by this tragedy.
“His Holiness joins the entire community in commending the souls of the deceased to the loving mercy of Almighty God,” the letter read.
At the same time, the Pope implored “the divine gifts of healing and consolation on the wounded and the afflicted.”
Through the telegram, the Holy Father sent his blessing “as a pledge of strength and peace in the Lord.”
As reported by CNN, on the night of January 21, a 72-year-old gunman opened fire on patrons of a dance hall in Monterey Park, who were celebrating the Lunar New Year in Los Angeles.
The attack left a balance of six women and five men dead, in addition to several wounded.
The author of the attack fled the scene of the crime but was later found dead in his vehicle.
Two days later, a gunman killed 7 people in another shooting in the southern California city of Half Moon Bay.
The alleged perpetrator of this attack, a 67-year-old man, turned himself in hours later to the police.
After the attacks, Bishop José Gómez issued a statement in which he assured that “we pray for those killed and injured in this shooting, we ask God to stay close to their families and loved ones.”