The Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church Bartholomew expressed condolences to the spiritual leader of the Latin-Catholic community of Massimiliano Palinuro in connection with an armed attack during the prayer in the Santa Maria Church in the Istanbul district of Saryer.
Patriarch Bartholomew called Palinuro and expressed condolences to the family of the deceased as a result of an armed attack on the church, and the entire Catholic community.
He expressed confidence that the authorities would immediately do everything necessary to shed light on this tragic incident. Bartholomew noted that one cannot interfere with the social world and harmonious coexistence of religious communities in the country.
Massimiliano Palinuro, commenting on the incident, said that the Catholic community of Istanbul was saddened and concerned about the attack that occurred in the Catholic Church of the Nativity of the Virgin in Buyucer.