• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Family members of Boston Marathon bombing victims Martin Richard, Krystle Campbell and Lingzi Lu walk down Boylston Street April 15, 2023, between the two bomb sites during a ceremony to mark the 10th anniversary of the bombing during the city's marathon. (OSV News photo/Brian Snyder, Reuters)

Cardinal recalls those killed, injured in 2013 Boston Marathon bombing; urges prayers for ‘gift of peace’

April 17, 2023
By Jacqueline Tetrault
OSV News
Filed Under: Feature, News, Sports, World News

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

BRAINTREE, Mass. (OSV News) — On the 10th anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing, Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley reflected on the impact the event had on the victims, survivors, first responders and what must be done to prevent such acts of violence.

“Ten years removed from that horrific day, the pain and suffering we witnessed does not easily subside,” he said.

On April 15, 2013, as people participated in the marathon on Patriots Day, two bombs went off near the finish line on Boylston Street in Boston. Hundreds were injured, and three people were killed at the time: Martin Richard, 8, Krystle Campbell, 29, and Lingzi Lu, 23.

Family members of Boston Marathon bombing victims Martin Richard, Krystle Campbell and Lingzi Lu join Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey April 15, 2023, at one of the sites of the 2013 marathon bombing during a ceremony to mark the 10th anniversary of the tragedy that ultimately took five lives and injured hundreds of others. (OSV News photo/Brian Snyder, Reuters)

The bombers, brothers Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev, also killed MIT Police Officer Sean Collier, 27, while evading the police in the days after the attack. Additionally, a Boston police officer, Sgt. Dennis Simmonds, suffered a head injury in a firefight with the fugitives, and died a year later. He was 28.

Tamerlan, 26, died of injuries he suffered during a gun battle with police. He also sustained injuries when his younger brother hit him with a car as he fled. Dzhokhar, now 29, was convicted April 8, 2015, on 30 charges stemming from the bombings and was sentenced to death. A federal appeals court overturned his death sentence, but the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated it in March 2022.

In his statement, Cardinal O’Malley said of the five victims, “We will never forget them. Each of their lives was a unique expression of love, concern for others, and courage. They will remain in our prayers as will their loved ones who continue to mourn their loss.”

Boston’s cardinal said that the season of Easter is a reminder “that in the midst of the darkness of this tragedy we turn to the light of Jesus Christ. We put our faith and trust in the Lord despite the senseless violence of that day.”

He said those who were injured “have inspired us with their courage and determination to not let hate deter them from living their lives.” Some of them continue to run the marathon each year. Cardinal O’Malley called this “a sign of hope and the resiliency of the human spirit.”

He also expressed gratitude to the first responders, “who selflessly charged into danger to rescue the injured and bring aid and comfort to all who were impacted. They exemplified the best of humanity.”

The cardinal noted the “increasingly senseless violent acts” taking place in the world, claiming the lives of innocent people, including children. He called upon leaders to “demonstrate the courage to find consensus and enact policies” for gun safety and mental health programs, “to save lives and address the underlying causes of this violence.”

“Each of us can contribute to these challenges through thoughtful consideration of how we talk to and about each other,” Cardinal O’Malley said.

He closed by quoting Pope Francis, who has said that “the more we feel our hearts are agitated, the more we sense we are nervous, impatient, angry inside, the more we need to ask the Lord for the Spirit of peace.” The pope added, “Let us also ask this for those who live next to us, for those we meet each day, and for the leaders of nations.”

“Let us honor the memory of Martin, Krystle, Lingzi, Sean and Dennis by asking the Lord for this gift of peace during these challenging days,” Cardinal O’Malley concluded.

Read More Sports

Stop the hatred; humanity is at stake, Pope Leo says in video message

In video for Chicago’s celebration, Pope Leo urges youth to recognize the ways God is reaching out to them

Pope: Sport reveals beauty of God, teaches teamwork, humility and hope

Villanova athletes inspired that pope keeps tabs on how his alma mater’s teams fare

Babe Ruth’s legacy continues to grace Archdiocese of Baltimore

Radio Interview: Baltimore sports broadcaster shares the importance of his Catholic faith

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

Jacqueline Tetrault

Click here to view all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Prince of Peace merges with St. Francis de Sales in Harford County

  • NBC’s Tom Llamas says Catholic education deepened his faith, pushed him to always do his best

  • Construction underway on new north addition to St. Joseph’s Nursing Home 

  • Archbishop Wenski leads Knights on Bikes to pray rosary at Alligator Alcatraz

  • Radio Interview: Youth ministry changing with the times

| Latest Local News |

Archdiocese of Baltimore offers resources for parishes to assist migrants

Third annual gun buyback scheduled for Aug. 9

Driver arrested after crashing into entrance of Esperanza Center

Construction underway on new north addition to St. Joseph’s Nursing Home 

Prince of Peace merges with St. Francis de Sales in Harford County

| Latest World News |

Ireland’s abortion rates rise 62 percent over 5 years; Catholic advocates call it ‘a tragedy’

Miami archbishop presses for pastoral visitation at Alligator Alcatraz

Body of Blessed Frassati, relic of Blessed Acutis will be in Rome for Jubilee

IDF says Gaza Holy Family Parish hit was errant mortar round that veered off course

Holy See at the UN urges sustainable development as U.S. pulls out of UNESCO

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Archdiocese of Baltimore offers resources for parishes to assist migrants
  • Third annual gun buyback scheduled for Aug. 9
  • Ireland’s abortion rates rise 62 percent over 5 years; Catholic advocates call it ‘a tragedy’
  • Miami archbishop presses for pastoral visitation at Alligator Alcatraz
  • Movie Review: ‘Smurfs’
  • Body of Blessed Frassati, relic of Blessed Acutis will be in Rome for Jubilee
  • Artificial Intelligence, wholeism and prayer
  • Driver arrested after crashing into entrance of Esperanza Center
  • IDF says Gaza Holy Family Parish hit was errant mortar round that veered off course

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

en Englishes Spanish
en en