The intense indignation of all France at this new outrage on
noncombatants was voiced at once through the press and in speeches in
the Chamber of Deputies. The authorities of the Catholic Church were
deeply stirred, and Pope Benedict sent a protest to Berlin against the
bombardment of Paris, and especially against the destruction of churches
and the wholesale massacre of civilians. Cardinal Amette, Archbishop of
Paris, arriving at the scene of the catastrophe a few moments after the
explosion, expressed the general feeling when he exclaimed: "The beasts!
To have chosen the day of our Lord's death for committing such a crime!"
The Vatican sent Cardinal Amette the following dispatch:
The Holy Father, deploring the fact that the bloody conflict,
which already has caused everywhere so much suffering, has
again, on the very day of the Saviour's Passion, found more
innocent victims, who are still dearer to his heart owing to
their faith and piety, expresses his deepest sympathy. He sends
the apostolic blessing to all the faithful in Paris, and desires
to know if it is necessary to send material aid to the families
in mourning.
The Cardinal also received the following letter from Grand Rabbi Israel
Levi on behalf of those of the Jewish faith:
Your Eminence, I am the interpreter of the feelings of all my
French co-religionists in saying that I share in the mourning
which has come to so many families devastated by sacrilegious
barbarism. We are one in pious indignation at the crime, which
seems to have been intended as an insult to what humanity holds
most sacred.
Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York, voiced the sentiments of New
York Catholics in this message to the Archbishop of Paris:
Shocked by the brutal killing of innocent victims gathered at
religious services to commemorate the passing of our blessed
Saviour on Good Friday, the Catholics of New York join your
noble protest against this outrage of the sanctuary on such a
day and at such an hour and, expressing their sympathy to the
bereaved relatives of the dead and injured, pledge their
unfaltering allegiance in support of the common cause that
unites our two great republics. May God bless the brave officers
and men of the allied armies in their splendid defense of
liberty and justice!
Among those killed in this disaster was H. Stroehlin, Secretary of the
Swiss Legation. The German Foreign Office later made an indirect
expression of regret to Switzerland for this act, but sought to justify
the bombardment on the ground that Paris is a fortress. The Kaiser sent
a special note of congratulation to the managers of the Krupp works
regarding the success of the weapon.