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PAKISTAN-BOMBS Mar-11-2008 (360 words) With photos. xxxi
Pakistan blast kills more than 20, damages Catholic buildings
By Catholic News Service
LAHORE, Pakistan (CNS) -- A massive suicide bomb targeting a government building killed 23 people and badly damaged Catholic buildings in Lahore.
The bomb exploded at 9:30 a.m. March 11 outside the Federal Investigation Agency office, causing serious damage to nearby Sacred Heart Cathedral, Sacred Heart Cathedral High School, St. Anthony's College, St. Paul Communication Center, the Caritas Pakistan building, a Catholic press building, a convent and catechists' house, reported the Asian church news agency UCA News.
Initial reports said the blast killed two students at the church schools -- one at Sacred Heart and one at St. Anthony's -- and injured more than 100.
Four members of the Caritas Pakistan staff were hospitalized for their injuries. Caritas Internationalis is the Vatican-based umbrella group for national Catholic charities around the world.
Honduran Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga of Tegucigalpa, president of Caritas Internationalis, sent a message of condolence to Caritas Pakistan and decried the bloodshed that continues "to destabilize Pakistan."
"That Caritas staff who are committed to building peace have been caught up in the blasts only adds to the tragedy," he said. "The country needs strong leadership at this time to find peace through dialogue. Violent attacks such as these can never bring about just peaceful solutions."
Standing at the scene in Lahore taking photographs, Father Morris Jalal, parish priest of St. Mary's Church, told UCA News, "Life has become totally unsafe nowadays."
Amid the devastation, with volunteers -- including nuns and priests -- trying to help, Father Jalal said that "dialogue with the violent groups is the only way out."
Archbishop Lawrence Saldanha of Lahore felt the blast from his room, which overlooks the scene. "These are attempts to destabilize the country," the archbishop told UCA News.
He said he hoped the new government elected in February would "resolve the issue through dialogue."
Another blast that occurred simultaneously in the Model Town area of the city injured several people and demolished an advertising agency.
Muslim militants have been targeting government institutions in suicide bomb attacks. One such attack on the Lahore High Court killed 23 people Jan. 10. Last year, more than 500 people were reported killed in similar attacks around the country.
END
Copyright (c) 2008 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed.
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