Catholic leaders and US President Joe Biden attended an interfaith prayer service in New Orleans on Monday to pray for the victims of the deadly terrorist attack in that city on New Year’s Day.
On January 1, a driver killed fourteen people when he plowed his truck into a crowd celebrating the New Year on the city’s Bourbon Street. Authorities said the truck was carrying an Islamic State flag. The driver was later killed in a shootout with police.
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Biden was among dignitaries who attended Monday night’s event at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans. Archbishop Gregory Aymond and Archbishop Emeritus Alfred Hughes presided over the service.
“We know what it’s like to lose a piece of our soul,” Biden told the victims’ families. “The anger, the emptiness, the black hole that seems to suck you into your chest, the feeling of loss, the questions about faith in your soul.”
“I promise you that the day will come,” Biden told them, “… when the memory of your loved one will bring a smile to your lips before a tear to your eyes.”
“My prayer is that that day comes sooner rather than later, but it will come, and when it does, (that) they will be able to find purpose in their pain,” the president said.
Bishop Aymond told the assembly that the attack “was not just a wound for New Orleans. “It was a wound for our nation, for our world, and for our quest for freedom.”
“For those of you who have lost loved ones, we cannot imagine your pain, your sense of loss, (or) the wounds in your heart that remain today and will remain,” he said.
“But we can assure you that God embraces you with love in the midst of your pain and helps you wipe away your tears, because you do not do that alone,” added the prelate.
Also present were representatives of the Jewish and Protestant communities, as well as leaders of other faiths in the area, many of whom also offered prayers and reflections at the event.
Last week, Pope Francis offered his condolences following the attack, invoking prayers for the souls of the deceased, as well as for the healing and comfort of the wounded and grieving.
“Assuring the entire community of his spiritual closeness, His Holiness commends the souls of the deceased to the loving mercy of Almighty God and prays for the healing and consolation of the wounded and afflicted,” the Vatican stated.
Translated and adapted by the ACI Prensa team. Originally published in CNA.
Daniel Payne
Daniel Payne is senior editor at Catholic News Agency. He previously worked at College Fix and Just the News. He lives in Virginia with his family.