ROME-- The community of Sant'Egidio in Rome has sent its sincere condolences to Christians in Northern Tanzania after an attack on Sunday against the New Catholic Church in Arusha, which killed two and injured thirty.  Thankfully, the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Francisco Montecillo Padilla, who was leading the liturgy at the time of the attack, was unharmed.

Local police in Arusha confirmed that six suspects had been arrested following the attack, two of which were Tanzanians whilst the other four came from Saudi Arabia.

Sunday’s attack comes as the latest in a series of acts of unprovoked violence against Christians in the region.  The Community of Sant’Egidio in Rome is urging Tanzanian local authorities to have a greater marked presence in areas throughout the country, which has East Africa’s second largest economy.  Sant’Egidio has stressed the importance of bringing this desperate situation to people’s attention.

The Community of Sant’Egidio’s origins date back to 1968, when it was founded in Rome in the period following the Second Vatican Council.  Today, it has members in over 73 countries throughout the world and has a notable presence in Tanzania, primarily made up of young college students with a commitment to serving the poor.  Their presence is not only in Arusha but also in many other major cities throughout the country, including Dar es Salaam, Mwanza and Morogoro.  The community is marked by its dedication to social development, prayer, communicating the gospel and the promotion of peace.