The Pope has issued a message following Derrick Bird’s murderous rampage, asking for strength to triumph over violence to be bestowed on west Cumbria. Pope Benedict XVI also asked for “forgiveness, hope and reconciling love” as towns and villages struggle to come to terms with the shootings that left 12 dead.
The head of the Catholic church issued the message through the Vatican to the Bishop of Lancaster Michael Campbell – the head of the Catholic church in the north of England.
The statement, from Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican Secretary of State, was then posted on the website of the Diocese of Lancaster, which covers Cumbria.
It says: “His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI asks you kindly to convey the assurance of his spiritual closeness to all who have been affected by the recent tragic events in west Cumbria.
“He joins you in commending the souls of the dead to God’s loving mercy and imploring consolation and peace for their families and for all who mourn their untimely loss.
“In a particular way he asks Christ our Saviour to bestow on all the members of the community the spiritual strength which triumphs over violence and division by the power of forgiveness, hope and reconciling love.”
The message, relayed from the Pope just over a week ago, was made public in recent days.
Bird was cremated at a private funeral on Friday – more than two weeks after the massacre that shocked the country.
The taxi driver, 52, became one of Britain’s most notorious killers when he gunned down a dozen victims across west Cumbria and injured many more before shooting himself on June 2.
Meanwhile, the ashes of killer Bird and his twin brother David, who he gunned down on June 2, will be mingled before they are buried in a family plot. Bird’s devastated mother Mary has asked for his ashes to be buried with David’s as they are laid to rest.
Rev Jim Marshall – who has been helping Mrs Bird’s since the tragedy – said: “She would like her sons’ ashes mixed together before the interment, then buried in the family plot with their father Joe. She wants to be buried with them when her time comes.”
Bird shocked the world and left 12 people dead and injured 11 during his rampage. He shot brother David in his bed at the start of the massacre. It ended when he turned the gun on himself.
Last Monday, Derrick’s sons Graeme, 28, and Jamie, 16, attended David’s funeral at Distington Crematorium, near Whitehaven, as a show of unity.
On Friday David’s daughters Rachel, 28, Tracie, 26, and Katie, 19, sent a message of “love and support” which was read at Derrick Bird’s funeral last Friday.
SIC: N&S