Pope Benedict XVI blesses devotees during his Sunday Angelus prayer at his summer residence of Castelgandolfo, south of Rome. -Reuters

VATICAN CITY Pope Benedict XVI has deplored the senseless attack on the Christian community in Pakistan and called on Christians not to be deterred in efforts to build respect between members of society.

The pope said in a telegram Monday that he was deeply grieved to hear about the attack in the Pakistani city of Gojra, where hundreds of Muslims stormed a Christian neighborhood. Eight people were killed.

Benedict sent his condolences to families of the victims and called on the Christians not to be deterred in their efforts to help build a society which, with a profound sense of trust in religious and human values, is marked by mutual respect among all its members.

He called on everybody to abandon violence and embrace the way of peace. -AP