Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Multan (Fides Service) – Together leading Christians and Muslims in Pakistan have condemned terrorism and called for tolerance and harmony, following the most recent episode of anti-Christian violence on 15 January when two Muslim extremists threw hand grenades at the Bible Society library in Karachi, southern Pakistan, injuring 15 people.
Recently at the invitation of the Bishop of Multan, Bishop Andrew Francis who is also President of the Pakistani Bishops’ Commission for Interreligious Dialogue, leading Christians and Muslims including Ulema Qari Mohammad Hanif Jalandhri as well as ordinary believers gathered at the Bishop’s residence to listen to readings from the Bible and the Koran and pray the prayer composed by St Francis of Assisi, “Make me a Channel of Your Peace”.
Thanking the Bishop of Multan for organising the meeting a prominent Muslim Seyed Raza Gardezi voiced deep respect for Pope John Paul II tireless promoter of reconciliation and peace in the world. Strongly condemning the attack on the Bible Society library and recalling that Christians offer an important contribute to the nation’s progress, the Muslim leader made a passionate plea for tolerance.
Christians taking part also voiced unanimous condemnation of terrorism, calling for united efforts to promote peaceful co-existence among religious communities the basis of authentic social harmony. Qari Mohammad Hanif Jalandhri thanked the Christians for their hospitality and invited Bishop Francis to visit some of the local Madrase (Islamic schools).
In his address Bishop Francis said that to promote dialogue means to render a service to humanity and he recalled that the primacy of the human person and inalienable human dignity and freedom are the foundations of the Catholic Church’s Social Teaching. At the end of the meeting the participants lit torches as symbols of peace and repeated their prayer for peace.
(PA) (Fides Service 9/2/2004 lines 32 words 303)
