Pope Horrified By Orlando Shooting, Vatican Says

By Daniel Burke, CNN Religion Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS/CNN) -- In unusually vivid language, the Vatican said Sunday that Pope Francis reacted in "horror" after the massacre of 50 people at a nightclub in Orlando.

"The terrible massacre that has taken place in Orlando, with its dreadfully high number of innocent victims, has caused in Pope Francis, and in all of us, the deepest feelings of horror and condemnation, of pain and turmoil before this new manifestation of homicidal folly and senseless hatred," the Holy See Press Office said in a statement.

The Vatican also said that Pope Francis joins the victims' families in prayer.

"We all hope that ways may be found, as soon as possible, to effectively identify and contrast the causes of such terrible and absurd violence which so deeply upsets the desire for peace of the American people and of the whole of humanity."

Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput also released a statement on Sunday:

"The recent violent acts committed in Orlando are horrific and they fill all of us with an unspeakable sadness. Innocent and precious lives were lost in a senseless and evil way. The family and friends of those who perished now shoulder a heavy burden of grief and suffering.

As Christians, our duty is to pray for those whose lives were ended by the inexcusable cruelty of others and to ask God to pour his comforting grace upon all those who are in mourning."

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