Vatican mourns Christians executed in Indonesia

From CWNews:

Sep. 22 (CWNews.com) - Vatican officials are mourning the deaths of three Indonesian Catholics who were executed on September 22 for allegedly masterminding a massacre of Muslims.

"It is very sad and very painful news," said Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Vatican press office, speaking to reporters about the news that the three men were executed by a firing squad shortly after midnight on Friday.

The Vatican did not release a formal statement about the execution-- perhaps hoping to avoid further tensions with Islamic groups. News that the execution had occurred sparked rioting by Christians in Indonesia, the world's most populous Islamic country.

"We are very sorry that the efforts of various organizations, including the St. Egidio community, were not successful," said Father Lombardi. The St. Egidio community had issued a last-minute plea to the Indonesian government to stop the execution. He noted that Pope Benedict XVI had entered a plea for clemency for the Indonesian men. [More from CWNews...]

More from CNS here. More from CNA here.

Requiscant in pace.