Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - In response to questions by journalists, the Director of the Press Office, Fr Federico Lombardi, issued the following statement this morning: “The murder of the Pakistani Minister for Minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti,is another act of violence of extreme gravity. It shows just how appropriate was the persistent intervention of the Pope about the violence against Christians and against religious freedom in general.
Bhatti was the first Catholic to hold such a post. I recall that he was received by the Holy Father last September, and he had given testimony to his commitment to peaceful coexistence among different religious communities in his Country. In prayer for the victim, in condemnation of the unspeakable acts of violence, in closeness to the Pakistani Christians so affected by hatred, we join the appeal because everyone recognises the dramatic urgency of the defence of religious freedom and of Christians subject to violence and persecution.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 2/3/2011)
