His All-Holiness expressed his condolences to the US Ambassador in Turkey on the recent terrorist attack of the Embassy in Ankara.

To His Excellency Francis J. Ricciardone, Ambassador of the United States of America to Turkey

It is with a heavy heart that we communicate with you in order to express our sincerest condolences for the terrorist attack carried out against your Embassy earlier today. Words cannot adequately express our shock and sorrow for this tragedy, and we remain yet again overwhelmed by the consequences of human hatred and evil in our world.

In this very hour, Your Excellency, we shall especially remember you and all of your staff in our prayers entreating our Lord to keep you under the “shadow of His wings.” It is our prayer that He may protect you from every hostile foe, and that you shall “not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day” (Psalm 91:5). May peace and comfort, healing and strength, courage and hope, surround you and all of yours today and every day.

With these words of prayerful support and wholehearted sympathy, we embrace you in the Lord and remain with much love and honor.

At the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the 1st of February, 2013

Prayerfully yours,

† BARTHOLOMEW

Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome

and Ecumenical Patriarch