Message from Archbishop Bernard Longley:

“My thoughts and prayers, and those of the Catholic community and all people of goodwill in the Archdiocese of Birmingham, are with the victims of the attacks in the churches and hotels in Sri Lanka today (Easter Sunday).

“The fact that it happened during prayer on Easter morning makes it all the worse.

“But our faith in the Risen Lord tells us that nothing, not evil nor death itself, can overcome the power of the resurrection.

“I commend all those who have died to the loving mercy of God and those injured or bereaved to the protection of Mary, our Mother, and a witness to the Resurrection.”