Parisians urged to pray ‘for hope not hate’ at Notre Dame service

Cardinal calls on country not to ‘provoke aggression’ but to remember attack victims


People attend a service at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on Sunday ahead of a ceremony for the victims of Friday’s terrorist attacks.

Sun, Nov 15, 2015, 19:37

The people of Paris have been urged to “pray for hope, not hate” at a ceremony at Notre Dame Cathedral to mourn the 132 people killed and hundreds injured in Friday’s terror attacks.

During an 80-minute service inside the French landmark, Cardinal Andre XXIII called on the country not to “provoke aggression” but to remember the dead in the wake of the “barbaric” attack on the country.

He said: “We pray for hope, not hate. “The main purpose of us meeting is to pray for the dead, their relatives, the wounded, our country.”

Cathedral bells

The service began after the famous cathedral bells rang out over the Seine and across the centre of Paris, marking the memory of the dead.

Crowds had gathered behind heavily controlled barriers around Place Jean Paul II square throughout the afternoon, eager to be among those permitted onto the pews inside.

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Oblivious to the drama outside, inside the cathedral a handful of people took pictures and videos on their camera phones during the service, which featured hymns, prayers, an organist and burning incense.

Members of the congregation were asked to shake hands with those around them before Cardinal Andre closed the service, shortly after 7.50pm local time (6.50pm Irish time).

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/parisians-urged-to-pray-for-hope-not-hate-at-notre-dame-service-1.2431213