Pope Benedict today condemned the murders of two British soldiers in Antrim and a policeman in Craigavon by dissident republicans.
"I condemn in the strongest terms these abominable acts of terrorism which, apart from desecrating human life, seriously endanger the ongoing peace process in Northern Ireland," said the pontiff at his weekly general audience.
"I ask the Lord that no one will again give in to the horrendous temptation of violence," he said.
The Continuity IRA killed a policeman on Monday two days after another splinter group shot dead the British soldiers at an army base in attacks that raised fears of a backlash from pro-British loyalists.