Pope Francis has met the families of nine Italian victims of Holey Artisan Bakery attack in Dhaka’s Gulshan area last year.

On July 1, 2016, armed militants stormed the café at the diplomatic zone and killed nine Italians, seven Japanese, two Bangladeshis, one Indian and one Bangladesh-born US citizen. Two police officers were also killed.

Pope Francis on Wednesday embraced and comforted 36 members of the families of the Italian victims, reports Vatican Radio.

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Those present included family members of Marco Tondat, Christian Rossi, Maria Riboli, Vincenzo D’Allestro, Claudio Cappelli, and Simona Monti, who were killed in the terror attack.

“It’s easy to take the road from love that leads to hatred, while it is difficult to do the opposite: from bitterness and hatred to go towards love,” he said.

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“You are left in anger, bitterness and desire for revenge, but you have embarked, with the pain inside, on the path of love to build and help the people of Bangladesh, especially young people so that they can study: this is to sow peace and I thank you, for me it is an example,” he said.