TELEGRAM FOR THE ASSASSINATION OF BENAZIR BHUTTO

VATICAN CITY, 29 DEC 2007 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon it was made public that the Holy Father sent a telegram of condolence, signed by Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B., to Archbishop Lawrence John Saldanha of Lahore, president of the Pakistan Catholic Bishops' Conference, for the recent assassination of Benazir Bhutto, former prime minister and leader of the Pakistan People's Party:

"Following the brutal terrorist attack in which Ms Benazir Bhutto, former prime minister and leader of the Pakistan People's Party, was fatally wounded, the Holy Father expresses sentiments of deep sympathy and spiritual closeness to the members of her family and to the entire Pakistani nation. He prays that further violence will be avoided and that every effort will be made to build a climate of respect and trust, which are so necessary if good order is to be maintained in society and if the country's political institu­tions are to operate effectively".

TGR/BHUTTO ASSASSINATION/BERTONE VIS 080102 (170)