Bishops’ Conference of Scotland to Archbishop Tadeusz Wojda, President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference.

Your Excellency, dear Brother,

Meeting this week in Coatbridge for our Autumn Plenary assembly, the Catholic Bishops of Scotland have received with profound shock and heavy hearts the devastating news of the mass shooting in Kraków’s city centre this past weekend.

On behalf of the Catholic Church and the faithful in Scotland, we write to offer our deepest fraternal sympathy, prayers and solidarity to you, the Polish hierarchy, and the entire nation at this time of national sorrow.

We are particularly heartbroken by the loss of innocent lives in Kraków’s Main Market Square and the preceding tragedy in the suspect’s family home. We pray that the Lord of all consolation will receive the souls of the deceased into His eternal peace and grant strength to their grieving families. Our thoughts and prayers are also with the many injured, including the police officers who courageously risked their lives to apprehend the attacker; we pray for their full and swift recovery.

The bonds between the peoples of Scotland and Poland are deep, historical and enduring. Today, our own parishes across Scotland are immeasurably enriched by a vibrant Polish community, making this tragedy feel close to home. Please be assured that we are united in prayer and that in today’s celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass we remembered the victims and prayed for peace in your homeland.

May the Prince of Peace pour out His healing grace upon the city of Kraków, and may Our Lady, Queen of Poland, comfort all who mourn.

With every assurance of our brotherly care and highest esteem in the Risen Lord,

Yours fraternally in Christ,

+ Leo Cushley, Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh
+ William Nolan, Archbishop of Glasgow
+ Joseph Toal, Bishop of Motherwell
+ Hugh Gilbert OSB, Bishop of Aberdeen
+ John Keenan, Bishop of Paisley
+ Brian McGee, Bishop of Argyll and the Isles
+ Francis Dougan, Bishop of Galloway
+ Andrew McKenzie, Bishop of Dunkeld
+ Kenneth Nowakowski, Bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy
+ Mar Joseph Srampickal, Bishop of the Syro-Malabar Eparchy