Pope Francis prays for victims of Egypt bus attack

By Francesca Merlo

Pope Francis said he was “deeply saddened to learn of the recent bomb attack near Giza”. The message came in a telegram to Egypt’s President, Abdel Fattah Al Sisi.

Telegram

In the telegram, the Pope condemned the attack on a tourist bus, and deplored “this senseless and brutal act”. He said he is praying for “the victims and their families, for the injured and for the emergency personnel who generously came to their aid.”

Finally, Pope Francis encouraged all Egyptians “to overcome violence with solidarity and peace” and invoked “divine blessings upon Egypt and its people”.

Facts

A roadside bomb hit a tourist bus on Friday near the Giza Pyramids, killing three Vietnamese tourists and their Egyptian guide.

The bus was traveling in the Marioutiyah area near the pyramids when the roadside bomb, which was hidden by a wall, went off.

The blast wounded 11 other Vietnamese tourists as well as the Egyptian driver.