Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald, president of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue. Photo: Photooikoumene.org

A Joint Islamic-Catholic committee has condemned deadly car bomb attacks on places of worship in Iraq.
The committee Tuesday, in a statement, called the suicide attacks on Christian and Muslim places of worship blind violence that offends the sacred name of God and true religion.

Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald, president of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue and Dr. Hamid Bin Ahmad Al-Rifaie, president of the International Islamic Forum for Dialogue signed the document.

Pope John Paul also deplored the bombings, Monday calling them unjust aggression against a religious community working for peace and reconciliation.

Five car bombings near Christian churches during services Sunday killed at least 11 people and wounded scores of others, some seriously. There have been numerous attacks on mosques in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion of the country last year.