Pope accepts invitation to visit Pakistan this year
The Newspaper's Staff Reporter
Published
March 3, 2016
LAHORE: Pope Francis has accepted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s invitation to visit Pakistan this year, according to a message received here on Wednesday from the Vatican.
The invitation was extended by Ports and Shipping Minister Kamran Michael and Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Yusuf.
The highest Catholic priest also offered special prayers for Pakistan and the Pakistanis who have fallen victim to terrorism.
Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2016
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On DawnNews
Comments (48) Closed
Abbas
Mar 03, 2016 07:45am
Welcome Pope Francis, We are Pakistanis with open heart and brain. Welcome to Pakistan. Our Christian Brothers and sisters definitely deserve to pray with you. God bless every one.
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Saeed
Mar 03, 2016 08:26am
Good for Pakistani Catholics to enjoy the blissful company of their Pope and will improve Pakistan's image in the world
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YezB
Mar 03, 2016 09:07am
Wonderful indeed. The whole world prays for Pakistan to deal matters sensibly.
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Just Thinking
Mar 03, 2016 09:11am
Such invitations should also be extended to prominent Hindu scholars and Priests ....
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gul
Mar 03, 2016 09:15am
His Holiness' visit will bring blessings for the people of Pakistan.
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Hashim
Mar 03, 2016 09:23am
Good for Pakistan.
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Sarfraz
Mar 03, 2016 09:35am
Very good
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Karachi wala
Mar 03, 2016 10:04am
That is amazing. Pope Francis truly is an inspiration for every person - catholics and non-catholics alike. Excited to welcome him to Pakistan!
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Asim Rizvi
Mar 03, 2016 10:13am
This is good.
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Ahmar Qureshi
Mar 03, 2016 10:40am
This is a good for international peace & brotherhood!
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AK
Mar 03, 2016 11:03am
Great and bold gesture from the government
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Bin Adam
Mar 03, 2016 11:23am
The most revered and beloved leader of Christians, Muslims and all the peace loving people of the World. Who is truly carrying the Jesus Christ's message of unconditional love and forgiveness all over the globe. Holy Bible " Matthew:5:43-48: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect".
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Imran AB
Mar 03, 2016 11:24am
Great gesture and should be a wonderful gift for the Pakistani Christians
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Pakistani
Mar 03, 2016 11:30am
I am a christian and im proud of our PM for inviting Pope Frances to Pakistan. Im loving PML government! Thank you Nawaz Sharif!
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Pakistani
Mar 03, 2016 11:30am
Thank you Nawaz Sharif on behalf of 3 million Pakistani christians!!
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My 2 cents
Mar 03, 2016 11:31am
I am not a great fan for PMLN or its leadership - but - what I have seen his recent confidence in Karachi Ops, Zarab Uzab, Women Rights and Justice in murder of Salaman Taseer - I have a hope in him too... he can bring Pakistan back from dark era
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nuzhat shireen
Mar 03, 2016 11:38am
he should come and teach our religious elements about peace.
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Arif Muqri
Mar 03, 2016 11:49am
Positive news.
We muslim should be open minded as per teaching of our Holy Prophet PBUH.
Humanity is above the religion.
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Arshad
Mar 03, 2016 12:05pm
Pope should also condemn the brutality of USA, Britain, Germany & France killing millions of innocent Iraqi citizens in an imposed war on false pretext of WMD. They were killed because they were Muslims.
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karachi wala
Mar 03, 2016 01:08pm
indeed, we pakistanies (Christians + muslims) welcomes u with love and respect. its an honour for all pakistanies..
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Abdulla Hussain
Mar 03, 2016 01:08pm
Good news, the Pope should visit Pakistan and meet in person peoples of this country to find out that Pakistanis are very friendly & hospitable peoples. The Christian community will have a chance to see their Pope.
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imran ali
Mar 03, 2016 01:17pm
pope fracis, please teach "muslims of this country that humanity is the essense of all religions", we pakistanies irrespective of our beliefs r happy to welcome u here.
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malika
Mar 03, 2016 01:22pm
The pope is visiting at a time when no one dares enter pakistan. Hopefully this turns a new leaf in our country
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shaD
Mar 03, 2016 01:34pm
GooD News..
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PETER REGO
Mar 03, 2016 01:36pm
Pope Francis most welcome to Pakistan.
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AA
Mar 03, 2016 01:37pm
A good step indeed...
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Muzzamil
Mar 03, 2016 01:39pm
We need people like him in Pakistan to promote peace. Major overhauling is needed in madrassas to change the mindset.
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Tamza
Mar 03, 2016 01:44pm
@Just Thinking prominent!?
Perhaps you mean 'decent' and 'open-minded' and 'ecumenical'?
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Muhammad
Mar 03, 2016 02:15pm
@Just Thinking sure why not. It should expand to include representatives of all faiths. It would help promote inter faith harmony.
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Shakti
Mar 03, 2016 02:56pm
I hopw Pakistanis keep an open mind about Christianity.
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Azmeen
Mar 03, 2016 03:10pm
Welcome Pope Francis to Pakistan.
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SAQ
Mar 03, 2016 03:16pm
That's great. He is a very enlightened man and doing a great job of spreading Unity between the different faiths.
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BK
Mar 03, 2016 03:18pm
His Holiness visit to Pakistan will remove lot of misconceptions about Pakistan. There is a general belief outside, no other religious head will able to roam around Pakistan, due to its so called volatile situation. We welcome sir, and the Hon. Prime Minister for this initiative. Mr. Nawaz sab seems to be very sincere towards improving the image of Pakistan. In the context of relation with India, Mr. Sharif took some bold steps.
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GAK Wazir
Mar 03, 2016 04:52pm
We, Pakistanis welcome Pope Francis here in our country. We believe in inter faith harmony to promote peace and eliminate sectarianism. Islam guarantees protection of minorities and their other basic rights, and so does other religions including Christianity.
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GA
Mar 03, 2016 06:02pm
Would be great if he visits.
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Indian Wolfie
Mar 03, 2016 07:08pm
Hope he visits India too :)
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AKB
Mar 03, 2016 07:38pm
Good news. Welcome to Pakistan.
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peace
Mar 03, 2016 07:43pm
This is GREAT news! Please welcome and pray for love, peace and tolerance for humanity!
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Zak
Mar 03, 2016 09:50pm
Another fine Pope in the 1970's or 80's. He had great words for the nation of Pakistan. Everyone wants to come to Pakistan. Great.
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Zak
Mar 03, 2016 10:04pm
The very respected and popular Pope John Paul II came to Pakistan in 1981. The Pakistani crowd of all religious leaning came out to welcome him.
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Mohammed Sattar
Mar 03, 2016 11:39pm
A good move by the Pakistani government.
Congratulations to all concerned.
Foolproof security must be provided otherwise Pakistan will never live it down if anything untoward was to happen to the Pope.
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Nasir Hameed
Mar 03, 2016 11:59pm
Good I am really happy Pope is visiting Pakistan. It is nice to see such a positive reaction from others in the comments section. Pakistan will have to provide him very detailed security. He holds more importance than Obama.
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Imran
Mar 04, 2016 02:39am
Wonderful.
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Jamal
Mar 04, 2016 04:36am
Welcome Pope Francis
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Cyrus
Mar 04, 2016 06:46am
The Pope's visit will put the world spotlight on Pakistan for a few days.
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Battleaxe
Mar 04, 2016 09:40am
Trump missed out on this one so a big win .Democrats in America can arrange anything anywhere for friends but this one is no surprise .Last year people lost their heads this year I don't know what will happen . Public is stunned as never before ,looks like a stun is better than a gun.
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Sonny Afridi
Mar 04, 2016 10:27am
I will be thrilled to see his holiness visit Pakistan. I love him, such a great personality.
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Babar
Mar 05, 2016 09:56am
@Arshad The Pope did condemn at the time. The Pope should give a lecture to our clerics and fanatics who are always trying to incite people in the name of religion?
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