Pope prays after attacks in Bangladesh, Iraq

Pope Francis AP PHOTO

DHAKA, Bangladesh — Pope Francis has led tens of thousands of pilgrims, tourists and Romans in silent prayer for the dozens of people who perished in militant attacks on a Dhaka, Bangladesh, restaurant and two bombings in Baghdad.

Francis told the crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday that he expresses closeness to the families of the victims and the wounded. He urged prayers so that “the Lord converts the heart of violent ones blinded by hate.”