Baby strollers are seen on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, France, on Friday, July 15. A 31-year-old native of Tunisia and resident of Nice drove into a crowd during the southern French city's Bastille Day celebrations around 10:45 p.m. on Thursday, July 14, killing at least 84 people and leaving around 202 injured.
Baby strollers are seen on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, France, on Friday, July 15. A 31-year-old native of Tunisia and resident of Nice drove into a crowd during the southern French city's Bastille Day celebrations around 10:45 p.m. on Thursday, July 14, killing at least 84 people and leaving around 202 injured.
Alberto Estevez/Newscom/EFE/Newscom
A woman cries, asking for her son, as she walks near the scene of the attack.
A woman cries, asking for her son, as she walks near the scene of the attack.
Luca Bruno/AP
A forensics team inspects the scene of the attack.
A forensics team inspects the scene of the attack.
ALBERTO ESTEVEZ/EFE
A man looks at the scene of the attack on the Promenade des Anglais.
A man looks at the scene of the attack on the Promenade des Anglais.
Patrick Aventurier/Getty Images
Forensics investigators examine a truck at the scene of the attack.
Forensics investigators examine a truck at the scene of the attack.
Patrick Aventurier/Getty Images
graphic warning - multiple images
Bodies of victims covered by sheets remained at the scene of the attack early Friday.
Bodies of victims covered by sheets remained at the scene of the attack early Friday.
Luca Bruno/AP
A man sits next to the body of a victim following the attack.
A man sits next to the body of a victim following the attack.
Panoramic/Newscom/ZUMAPRESS
Authorities confirmed that the driver of the truck was killed by police.
Authorities confirmed that the driver of the truck was killed by police.
Franck Fernandes/Maxppp via ZUMA Press/ZUMAPRESS.com
The truck plowed into a crowd leaving a Bastille Day fireworks display in the French resort city of Nice. One witness, an American who was about 15 feet from the truck, said the driver accelerated and pointed his tractor-trailer into the crowd, mowing people over.
The truck plowed into a crowd leaving a Bastille Day fireworks display in the French resort city of Nice. One witness, an American who was about 15 feet from the truck, said the driver accelerated and pointed his tractor-trailer into the crowd, mowing people over.
VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images
A man lies near a covered body at the scene of the attack on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice.
A man lies near a covered body at the scene of the attack on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice.
Cyril Dodergny/Maxppp via ZUMA Press
Emergency teams assist wounded people at the scene.
Emergency teams assist wounded people at the scene.
Olivier Anrigo/EPA
A photo from the Twitter account of a reporter for CNN affiliate France 2 shows witnesses being interviewed inside the Hotel Negresco after the attack. According to Alban Mikoczy, these people are not injured.
A photo from the Twitter account of a reporter for CNN affiliate France 2 shows witnesses being interviewed inside the Hotel Negresco after the attack. According to Alban Mikoczy, these people are not injured.
Twitter/Alban Mikoczy
Wounded people are evacuated from the scene where the truck drove into the crowd during the Bastille Day celebrations.
Wounded people are evacuated from the scene where the truck drove into the crowd during the Bastille Day celebrations.
Olivier Anrigo/EPA
Armed French police move people away from the Promenade des Anglais in Nice in the aftermath of Thursday's attack.
Armed French police move people away from the Promenade des Anglais in Nice in the aftermath of Thursday's attack.
Franck Fernandes/Maxppp via ZUMA Press
Medical workers attend to an injured woman.
Medical workers attend to an injured woman.
Olivier Anrigo/EPA
Police security forces deployed in the center of Nice.
Police security forces deployed in the center of Nice.
VALERY HACHE/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Tony Molina, a U.S. police officer on vacation in Nice, witnessed the terrible scene from his hotel room. He told CNN he thought he heard between 30 and 40 gunshots. "I saw the truck right below us and it had already driven down the boardwalk for a half a mile."
Tony Molina, a U.S. police officer on vacation in Nice, witnessed the terrible scene from his hotel room. He told CNN he thought he heard between 30 and 40 gunshots. "I saw the truck right below us and it had already driven down the boardwalk for a half a mile."
VALERY HACHE/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
BFM-TV, a CNN affiliate in France, reported that police shot at the truck to try to stop it.
BFM-TV, a CNN affiliate in France, reported that police shot at the truck to try to stop it.
Franck Fernandes/Maxppp/Zuma Press
Rescue workers move a victim from the scene.
Rescue workers move a victim from the scene.
Franck Fernandes/Maxppp via ZUMA Press/ZUMAPRESS.com
Soldiers, police officers and firefighters walk among bodies covered with blue sheets on the seafront Promenade des Anglais.
Soldiers, police officers and firefighters walk among bodies covered with blue sheets on the seafront Promenade des Anglais.
VALERY HACHE/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Police seal off the area around the scene. A witness said at first it seemed like an accident, but then it became obvious it was a deliberate act.
Police seal off the area around the scene. A witness said at first it seemed like an accident, but then it became obvious it was a deliberate act.
Franck Fernandes/Maxppp via ZUMA Press/ZUMAPRESS.com
"I wasn't sure what to do, in that situation. No one knew what was going on. We just knew we had to run for our lives," said Paul Delane, an American who witnessed the attack.
"I wasn't sure what to do, in that situation. No one knew what was going on. We just knew we had to run for our lives," said Paul Delane, an American who witnessed the attack.
Franck Fernandes/Maxppp via ZUMA Press/ZUMAPRESS.com
French President Fran?ois Hollande said the country would now extend its state of emergency for three months.
French President Fran?ois Hollande said the country would now extend its state of emergency for three months.
VALERY HACHE/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
A doll is seen at the scene of the attack on the Promenade des Anglais.
A doll is seen at the scene of the attack on the Promenade des Anglais.
Tarubi Wahid Mosta/CNN iReport
Bastille Day terror: Harrowing images of truck attack in Nice

Story highlights

Pope Francis offers his prayers and compassion for those affected by July 14 attack

Survivors and families of the victims meet with Francis in Rome

CNN  — 

Pope Francis told survivors and the relatives of those killed and injured in the Bastille Day terror attack in Nice, France, that he shared their pain as he met with them Saturday in Rome.

More than 80 people died when Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel plowed a 20-ton truck into crowds on the Promenade des Anglais seafront in Nice during a fireworks celebration on France’s key national holiday.

Ten children were among the victims of the ISIS-inspired attack. More than 200 people were injured.

“I wish to share in your pain, a pain that is even greater when I think of the children, or indeed entire families, whose life was taken from them suddenly and so dramatically,” Francis said.

“I assure each one of you of my compassion, my closeness and my prayer.”

The Pope also prayed for all those who were injured July 14, including ones who were “appallingly maimed, in flesh and spirit,” and some who were still in the hospital and unable to make the journey to Rome.

Nice truck attack: Full coverage

  • Attacker ‘not very intelligent’
  • Why did he launch rampage?
  • Photos: Celebrations shattered
  • Nice: An extremist hotbed?
  • Walking the trail of terror
  • Witnesses: Bodies everywhere
  • New tool of terror?
  • Nice: Idyllic seaside city
  • Should tourists stay away from Nice?
  • 30 days of terror
  • Why France again?
  • U.S. victims: Father, son killed

    • Francis called on political and religious leaders to foster dialogue, saying that where there is a temptation “to respond to hatred with hatred or violence with violence,” a change of heart is needed.

    “It is possible to respond to assaults by the devil only with the works of God, which are forgiveness, love and respect for our neighbor, even if he or she is different,” he said.

    France has been under a state of emergency since the Paris terror attacks in November, and authorities have struggled to monitor thousands of domestic radicals on their radar.

    Less than two weeks ago, French authorities thwarted what they said was an ISIS plot to attack the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.