Vatican Press Office Director Fr Federico Lombardi’s response to journalists’ questions on the killing of Osama bin Laden: Osama bin Laden – as we all know – was gravely responsible for promoting division and hatred between peoples, causing the death of countless innocent lives, and of exploiting religions to this end. Faced with the death of a man, a Christian never rejoices, but reflects on the serious responsibility of each and every one of us before God and before man, and hopes and commits himself so that no event be an opportunity for further growth of hatred, but for peace.
I think Father Lombardi got it just right. The patriotic American in me is glad that a murdering terrorist no longer walks this earth. The Catholic part of me knows that it is God’s place to judge. I feel relief and gratitude, but also sorrow that our conflicts still are resolved through violence.
