In video message to Jewish group, Pope Francis urges justice for victims of 1994 AMIA bombing

20th anniversary of terrorist attack on Buenos Aires Jewish community center

BUENOS AIRES/NEW YORK – In an unprecedented video message to the World Jewish Congress’ Latin American branch on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attack against the AMIA Jewish center in Buenos Aires, Pope Francis has expressed his solidarity with the Jewish community of Argentina and made an impassioned call for justice. The video message was recorded by Claudio Epelman of the Latin American Jewish Congress and will be screened at the commemoration in the Argentine capital today.

“Terrorism is lunacy. Terrorism’s only purpose is to kill. It does not build anything, it only destroys,” the pope said in the message in Spanish. “For this reason, I stand side-by-side with all those who have seen lives cut short, hopes destroyed, and ruin. I have said that Buenos Aires is a city that needs to cry, that still hasn’t cried enough. Even if it is commonplace, I repeat: We need to cry,” Francis says, adding: “May justice be done!”

Watch the video by clicking on this link