The House and the nation have learned with profound dismay of the attempt on the life of His Holiness, Pope John Paul II. I would be grateful, a Cheann Comhairle, if you would convey to the Cardinal Secretary of State the deepest sympathy of this House and our earnest wish and prayer for the recovery of his Holiness.
Attempted Assassination of Pope John Paul II: Statement By Taoisech.
I should like to associate this party with the Taoiseach in expressing our sense of shock, horror and revulsion at this appalling attack on the life of his Holiness, pre-eminently a man of peace in a world of ever-increasing violence. We extend our hopes and offer our prayers for his recovery so that he may continue his work for peace about which he spoke so movingly at Drogheda 18 months ago, tragically with little effect on the men of violence in our country.
On behalf of the Labour Party I should like to be associated with the expression of sympathy at the violence perpetrated against His Holiness, The Pope. For our people, who have already reached saturation point as far as violence is concerned, this additional act of violence has come as a very considerable shock indeed. For a man who, when he visited our country, spoke in such unequivocal terms condemning violence, it is sad to think that he is now the victim of violence. We can only hope and pray that he makes a speedy recovery.
I should like to express my sense of shock and revulsion at the act that happened this afternoon in the world. I think it is only right — as one of the few non-Catholic Deputies in this House — that I too wish Pope John Paul II a speedy recovery. He has proved to be a man of peace. It is terrible to think that the terrorists have struck once again.