VATICAN CITY – A telegram of condolence was sent on Wednesday from the Vatican to The Most Reverend Joseph Mark Spalding, the Bishop of Nashville, for the victims of the Nashville school shooting that occurred on Monday, Vatican communications said. 

 The telegram, sent by the Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, on behalf of Pope Francis, was published by the Holy See Press Office on Wednesday morning. 

 “Deeply saddened to learn of the recent shooting at the covenant school in Nashville, his holiness Pope Francis asks you to convey his heartfelt condolences and the assurance of his prayers to all affected by this senseless act of violence. He joins the entire community in mourning the children and adults who died and commends them to the loving embrace of the Lord Jesus. He likewise invokes the consolation and strength of the holy spirit upon the grieving families and prays that they will be confirmed in their faith in the power of the risen lord to heal every hurt and to bring good out of unspeakable evil.”

cw