Pope calls for an end to persecution of Pakistani Christians

Published March 15, 2015
Pope Francis waves as he leads the Angelus prayer from the window of the Apostolic Palace in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican.-Reuters
Pope Francis waves as he leads the Angelus prayer from the window of the Apostolic Palace in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican.-Reuters

VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis told the faithful in St. Peter's Square that he was pained by the news of two terror attacks against churches in Pakistan and called for an end of persecution against Christians.

The pontiff said during his traditional Sunday prayer that the numerous dead and injured were persecuted “only because they are Christians”.

Pope Francis said he felt great pain over bomb attacks outside two churches in Pakistan, departing from scripted remarks in his customary address to decry “persecution” of Christians.

“These are Christian churches. Christians are persecuted, our brothers spill their blood simply because they are Christians,” the pontiff said after his Angelus address.

Also read: 15 killed in Taliban attack on Lahore churches

Francis told crowds at St. Peter's Square in the Vatican that he prayed for peace in the country and that “this persecution of Christians, and that the world tries to hide it, finishes”.

The pontiff spoke after suicide bombers exploded themselves near two churches in Lahore on Sunday as worshippers were gathered inside. At least 14 people were killed in the blasts, claimed by a Pakistani Taliban splinter group, and nearly 80 people got injured.

Francis said he was praying for the victims and their families and that he “implored God, the source of all good, the gift of peace...for that country, and that this persecution against Christians, that the world tries to hide, ends.”

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary in the dock
Updated 22 Feb, 2025

Judiciary in the dock

Recent developments in SC and IHC certainly seem to have lent credibility to perception that judges perceived as a 'threat’ are being sidelined.
Paying taxes
22 Feb, 2025

Paying taxes

FINANCE Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb’s ‘hard talk’ at a retail business conference on Thursday was long ...
Rules for thee
22 Feb, 2025

Rules for thee

IT was a year ago when, in the tumultuous aftermath of the 2024 elections, the state banned X. Today, it remains...
Ukraine initiative
Updated 21 Feb, 2025

Ukraine initiative

Whether Trump’s Ukraine peace initiative succeeds or not, it will be difficult for Kyiv, Europe to face Russian military machine without US support.
High cost of SOEs
21 Feb, 2025

High cost of SOEs

THERE are losses and then some. The finance ministry’s latest overview of the federally owned state enterprises...
Poor impression
21 Feb, 2025

Poor impression

RECENT developments in the Senate have provided cause for concern on how parliamentary business is being conducted....