He also commented on the attacks in his speech at the end of of 2001. ”[The victims'] horrific deaths and subsequently their families' sufferings, as well as the shock experienced by the entire world, have alerted us to the evil that exists in this world. This has been a great omen, a great challenge for deeds, a great impulse for strengthening human solidarity, for the ability of self-restraint, and for the willingness to struggle for fundamental human values,” he said.