Pope Francis has condemned “the blind violence” of “the cruel terrorist attack” in Barcelona on Aug. 17 and expressed his deep sorrow, condolences and prayers for the 13 persons that died in it. He assured the more than 100 people from at least 34 countries who were injured of his prayers and personal closeness. Fifteen of the injured are in critical condition.

He denounced the attack as “a grave offence against the Creator,” and prayed that God “may help us to continue working with determination for peace and harmony in the world.”

He told all this to Cardinal Juan José Omella, the archbishop of Barcelona, in a telegram sent on his behalf by the secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, on Aug. 18.

Pope Francis denounced the attack as “a grave offence against the Creator.”

“In the face of this cruel terrorist attack that sowed death and pain in Barcelona’s La Rambla [district],” Pope Francis said he “wishes to express his deepest sorrow for the victims who have lost their lives in such an inhuman action, and he offers his prayers for their eternal rest.” At least 13 people died in the deadly attack yesterday afternoon, and another person died in a separate attack in Cambrils, a coastal town around 120 kilometers from Barcelona.

Turning to the more than 100 persons injured in yesterday’s attack, the pope said that “in these moments of sadness and pain” he “wishes to extend his support and closeness to the numerous people who have been injured, to their families and to the entire Catalan and Spanish society.”

The telegram said, “Pope Francis condemns once again the blind violence that is a grave offence to the Creator, and raises his prayer to God so that he may help us to continue working with determination for peace and harmony in the world.”

Pope Francis concluded his message “by invoking God’s blessing on all the victims, on their family members, and on the dear Spanish people.”

Pope Francis concluded his message “by invoking God’s blessing on all the victims, on their family members, and on the dear Spanish people.”

Last evening, the Vatican spokesman, Greg Burke, in a statement, spoke of the pope’s “great concern” at the deadly attack as well as his prayers for the dead and injured and his closeness to their families and the entire Spanish nation.

Vatican Radio reported that the Catholic bishops of Spain have also condemned the terrorist attack in Barcelona, calling it a “lamentable and detestable act.” In a statement released shortly after the attack, they strongly condemned terrorism, and offered prayers for the victims, and said:

Before this mournful and detestable act, the Spanish Bishops’ Conference wishes, first, to express its solidarity and prayer for all the victims and their families. We also convey our support for the whole of society under attack by these actions, in this case the citizens of Barcelona, as well as for the Security Forces.

The bishops condemned “every demonstration of terrorism” as “an intrinsically perverse practice, completely incompatible with a just, reasonable, and moral view of life.”

Terrorism, they said, “not only gravely infringes the right to life and liberty, but is also an example of the most terrible form of intolerance and totalitarianism.” They invited the faithful “to pray that God grant eternal rest” to the dead and “return the injured to health and grant consolation to their families.”

The Spanish bishops concluded their statement by praying that “these despicable actions may never be repeated.”

Gerard O’Connell is America’s senior Vatican correspondent and author of The Election of Pope Francis: An Inside Story of the Conclave That Changed History. He has been covering the Vatican since 1985.