World reaction: Condolences and condemnation

A man holds up a sign which reads, “Je Suis Paris” (“I Am Paris”) during a rally of solidarity outside the Consulate of France in Montreal, Canada

World leaders are reacting to the deadliest violence to strike France since World War II. Some of their comments:

WHITE HOUSE
The White House says it has no information to contradict the French government’s assessment that the Islamic State carried out the Paris attacks. Obama earlier called the attacks on Paris “outrageous attempt to terrorize innocent civilians” and vowed to do whatever it takes to help bring the perpetrators to justice. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Obama called the attacks a “heartbreaking situation” and an “attack on all of humanity.”

GERMAN CHANCELLOR AND PRESIDENT
German Chancellor Angela Merkel pledged to work closely with the French government to help hunt for the culprits involved in the attacks and their backers. “This attack on freedom was aimed not just at Paris, it targeted and it hits all of us. That is why we must all respond together,” said Merkel, dressed in black, her voice faltering. “We, your German friends, feel very close to you. We cry with you,” she said. “We will lead this fight together with you against those who did such unimaginable things to you.”

CHINESE PRESIDENT
Chinese President Xi Jinping issued a statement addressed to French President Francois Hollande expressing solidarity with the French people and condolences for the victims of Friday’s attack. “At the sorrowful moment of the French people, I, on behalf of the Chinese government and the Chinese people, and personally, condemn in the strongest terms the barbaric acts,” Xi said.

POPE FRANCIS
Pope Francis said he was “moved and saddened” by the attacks in Paris but confessed that “I don’t understand these things. They are difficult to understand, carried out by human beings.” The pope, speaking in a heavy and measured voice, made the comments in a phone call broadcast on the Italian Bishop’s Conference TG2000 on Saturday. Asked if there can be a religious justification for such attacks, Francis responded: “Religious and human. This is not human.”

UNITED NATIONS
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is condemning “the despicable terrorist attacks” in Paris. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric says Ban “trusts that the French authorities will do all in their power to bring the perpetrators to justice quickly.” The U.N. Security Council also condemned “the barbaric and cowardly terrorist attacks,” and underlined the need to bring the perpetrators of “these terrorist acts to justice.”