His Holiness deeply saddened by ‘senseless’ assassination of Shinzo Abe

Pope Francis expressed his sorrow following the assassination of Shinzo Abe, former Prime Minister of Japan, who was gunned down in the city of Nara on Friday, 8 July, while giving a speech in support of candidates from his political party. In a telegram addressed to the Apostolic Nuncio in Japan, Archbishop Leo Boccardi, signed by Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Pope offered his “heartfelt condolences to [the former Prime Minister’s] family, friends, and the people of Japan”, and communicated his hope that “this senseless act” can strengthen Japan “in its historic commitment to peace and nonviolence”.