I have just read that the Patriarch, Ignace Joseph III Younan of Antioch, Syria, was one of the two “working” presidents of the recent Mid-East Synod in Rome. Perhaps he was the main intended target?
Catholic Culture reports: Gunmen linked with al-Qaeda stormed a Catholic church in Baghdad during Mass on October 31. “They entered the church with their weapons, wearing military uniforms,” said an 18-year-old who survived the attack. “They came into the prayer hall and immediately killed the priest.” After the gunmen took the worshippers hostage, US troops and Iraqi police stormed the parish in a rescue attempt. One gunman detonated a suicide belt, and a shootout ensued, leaving at least 37 hostages and 7 members of security forces dead along with 5 terrorists. Read more here with other news links.
