Pope condemns synagogue attack, prays for God to help put out ‘hotbeds of hate’

Pope Francis condemned the Saturday shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue and called for the destruction of “hotbeds of hate.”

“All of us, in reality, are wounded by this inhuman act of violence,” Francis told pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square after Mass Sunday, according to Reuters.

He expressed how close he felt to all the people of Pittsburgh “and in particular the Jewish community, stricken by a terrible attack on the synagogue.”

Francis asked for prayers for the victims’ families and those wounded in what the Anti-Defamation League has called likely the worst anti-Semitic attack in U.S. history.{mosads}

“May the Lord help us to put out the hotbeds of hate that flare up in our societies, strengthening a sense of humanity, respect for life, moral and civil values and the holy fear of God, who is love and the father of all,” the Pope said.

Saturday’s attack left 11 dead. The accused perpetrator has been charged with 29 federal counts, including the violation of hate crime laws.

President Trump said Saturday that the shooter should “pay the highest price.”

“This was an anti-Semitic attack at its worst,” Trump said.

“The scourge of anti-Semitism cannot be ignored, cannot be tolerated, and it cannot be allowed to continue … It must be confronted and condemned everywhere it rears its very ugly head.”

Vice President Pence also promised that he and Trump are “absolutely determined to do everything in our power to prevent these type of attacks from happening in the future.”