Bishops offer support and sympathy to Madrid victims

The following statement was issued by the Church of England's Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe and his Suffragan Bishop on Friday 12 March at midday.

To the Embassy Church of St George, Madrid

We your Bishops wish to convey the assurance of our prayers for you and for the people of Madrid, and indeed all of Spain, following Thursday's savage terrorist attack. The people of our Diocese would want you to know that you are in their hearts and prayers at this time. We join with all people of good will in condemning this act of terrorism.

We have been in touch with your Churchwardens as well as with our brother Bishop Carlos López Lozano of the Spanish Episcopal Reformed Church, to keep abreast of the situation as it affects you locally and to express our deep sorrow for the loss of life and for the pain and sense of insecurity that this attack has caused. We join with you in this time of national mourning.

We pray that the Spanish authorities will find the perpetrators of this atrocious crime and bring them to justice.
We pray for the safety of all at this time of national elections.
We pray for all the victims, and for those who minister to the bereaved and injured.
Above all we pray that God, who brought light out of darkness, will bring comfort and assurance to your city and people, that his way be known upon earth and his saving peace among all nations.

The Rt Revd Geoffrey Rowell, Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe
The Rt Revd David Hamid, Suffragan Bishop in the Diocese in Europe.

NOTE TO EDITORS

The Bishops have also sent messages of support and sympathy to the Roman Catholic Bishop in Madrid and to the British Ambassador in Madrid. We are not aware at present of any casualties among congregation members in Madrid. The Diocese in Europe is the 44th diocese of the Church of England, linking together some 350 English-speaking chaplaincies in 44 countries across mainland Europe and parts of North Africa.


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