ASIA/PAKISTAN - The Archbishop of Lahore: "Like the martyrs in Youhanabad, have faith in God"

Lahore (Agenzia Fides) - "Do not be afraid. Have faith in the Lord, just like the martyrs in Youhanabad": said His Exc. Mgr. Sebastian Francis Shaw OFM, Archbishop of Lahore, speaking to more than two thousand faithful gathered after Easter in the Catholic church of St. John in Youhanabad to pray "for the 22 martyrs" and the 70 injured who are still in hospital. As Fides learns, the Archbishop stressed that "terrorism affects the entire nation, making no distinction between churches, mosques, schools or government institutions". "The Christian faithful put their trust in the Lord and pray for true peace and for the entire nation. We thank the government, civil and religious leaders for their solidarity", he added, avoiding "tension and bad feelings among different communities", after the lynching of two Muslims after the attacks.
Fr. Francis Gulzar, pastor of St. John church and Vicar general in the diocese of Lahore, thanked the Archbishop, religious leaders and politicians who have shown attention, solidarity and interest in the Christian community affected. As reported to Fides, in recent days a delegation of the National Commission "Justice and Peace" (NCJP) of the Episcopal Conference of Pakistan, led by the Director, Fr. Emmanuel Yousaf, visited and comforted the faithful, trying to ease the tension and complications arising after the attacks. Thus, the Commission expressed the needs of local Christians, acting as a mediator in the relationship with the authorities, especially the innocent faithful arrested in the aftermath of the lynching. The Commission distributed aid money to the families of victims of the attacks and the families of Christians arrested unjustly, assuring them even free legal assistance. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 08/04/2015)