ASIA/PAKISTAN - Shahbaz Bhatti among the “new witnesses to the faith”, an example for “Christians in politics”

Rome (Agenzia Fides) – Shahbaz Bhatti has been named among the “new witnesses to the faith”, in a solemn prayer vigil last night in Rome in the church of St Bartholomew on Isola Tiberina, organised by the Sant'Egidio community. The church in fact is dedicated to the “new witnesses to the faith” and houses relics of the martyrs of the faith of modern times, from all continents. During the celebration, the Bhatti's personal Bible, in the Urdu language, was placed on the altar dedicated to the martyrs of Asia and Oceania. The celebration was presided at by Bishop Joseph Coutts of Faisalabad, the newly-elected President of the Episcopal Conference of Pakistan, and Paul Bhatti's brother, Shahbaz, currently Special Advisor for religious minorities to the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
The prayer vigil was preceded by a meeting entitled “Shahbaz Bhatti, a life of dialogue and co-existence in Pakistan”, and was attended by Italian Foreign Minister, Franco Frattini, Bishop Coutts, Paul Bhatti and the Imam of the Great Mosque in Lahore, Syed Muhammad Abdul Khabir Azaz. The Muslim leader, who speaks every week to thousands of faithful Muslims, stressed the need “for friendship between Christians and Muslims in Pakistan.” Bishop Coutts said that “today is the time for Pakistani Christians to follow in the footsteps of Bhatti, in his mission to defend religious freedom and harmony.” (PA) (Agenzia Fides 6/04/2011)