Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Mumbai and all those affected by the violence that broke out Nov. 26.

Catholic News Service reports that Pope Benedict XVI condemned the violence as “cruel and senseless.”

According to the report: “Speaking at his noon blessing Nov. 30, the pope asked for prayers for the victims of the attacks in Mumbai, the Indian financial capital, where suspected Islamic militants assaulted at least 10 targets in a three-day siege that began Nov. 26.”