WASHINGTON—Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), along with Bishop Oscar Cantú, of Las Cruces, Chair of the Committee on International Justice and Peace, and Bishop Mitchell Rozanski, of Springfield, Chair of the Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, have issued the following statement on today's attack in the Old City of Jerusalem. The deadly attack took place early this morning by the Lions' Gate in the Old City walls, next to what Muslims call the Noble Sanctuary and Jews call the Temple Mount.  

Full statement follows:

On behalf of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, we condemn in the strongest possible terms today's attack in the Old City of Jerusalem.  It is a particular desecration to carry out armed attacks in and around sites holy to Muslims and Jews in a city that is sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims.  We mourn for the lives lost and deplore the heightened tensions that such an attack can spawn. It was encouraging that both President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack.  The path to peace, for which both Israelis and Palestinians yearn, cannot be paved with violence.

Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo

Archbishop of Galveston-Houston

President, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Most Rev. Oscar Cantú

Bishop of Las Cruces

Chairman, Committee on International Justice and Peace

Most Rev. Mitchell T. Rozanski

Bishop of Springfield

Chairman, Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs