Pope expresses sorrow over Somalia bomb attack

Pope Francis. He has condemned the October 14, 2017 bombing in Mogadishu, Somalia. PHOTO | FILE | AFP

What you need to know:

  • 276 people were killed in Saturday's Mogadishu bombing.

VATICAN CITY

Pope Francis on Wednesday expressed his sorrow over the worst bombing in Somalia's history.

At the weekend, a deadly truck attack left at least 276 people dead in Mogadishu.

SHABAAB

"I pray for the conversion of the violent and send my encouragement to all those who, in the face of enormous difficulties, work for peace in this martyred country," Pope Francis said at his weekly audience in St Peter's square.

No-one has claimed responsibility for the attack, which was widely seen as likely being the work of the Shabaab, an insurgent Islamist group aligned with Al-Qaeda.

The pope had earlier told delegates to an interfaith conference at the Vatican that "those who engage in acts of violence, or try to justify them in the name of religion, gravely offend God."