AFRICA/LIBYA-"I pray to Our Lady of Fatima to help us to free ourselves from the 'plague' of bombs and all sorts of violence, " said Bishop Martinelli from Tripoli

Tripoli (Agenzia Fides) - "Today is the feast of Our Lady of Fatima. May she help us free ourselves from the 'plague' of bombs and all sorts of violence. Blessed John Paul II suffered violence and Our Lady of Fatima saved him. As Pastor I invoke the intercession of Our Lady of Fatima and St. Francis so our leaders may convince themselves to take the path of negotiation and peace, " Archbishop Giovanni Innocenzo Martinelli, Apostolic Vicar of Tripoli says to Fides. Archbishop Martinelli also states that "the prayer to Our Lady of Fatima is important because it is also known by the Muslim world"
The Apostolic Vicar of Tripoli declares, however, disappointed: "As far as I know, there is no attempt to dialogue. This worries me, because we want to solve everything with force. But force never brings positive results.” "Last night bombings were less intense than the two previous nights. The problem is that bombings provoke civil victims. The radio transmits appeals from mothers and children who asked not to be bombed, " concludes Bishop Martinelli. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 05/13/2011)