The Vatican expressed concern following the attempted assassination of former US President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13.
In a statement issued on July 14, the Holy See remarked on “last night’s episode of violence, which wounds people and democracy, causing suffering and death.”
The statement called for peace, saying “the motives of the violent may never prevail,” and joined US bishops in prayer for the country and the victims.
It was reported that the incident resulted in the death of one spectator and injuries to two others. Trump himself was wounded in the upper part of his right ear. The suspected shooter, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed by Secret Service agents at the scene. Trump was taken to a local hospital for treatment before being flown to New Jersey.
Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, condemned the attack, saying, “together with my brother bishops, we condemn political violence, and we offer our prayers for President Trump, and those who were killed or injured.”
Bishop David Zubik of Pittsburgh also invited prayers “for the health and safety of all, for healing and peace, and for an end to this climate of violence in our world.”
Pray for peace!
🙏
Photo credit: Shaleah Craighead, CC BY 3.0 US via Wikimedia Commons