Agenzia Fides

Rome (Agenzia Fides) - "Life begins to return slowly back to normality. Even the small Catholic community continues its liturgical journey and there are no particular difficulties " says His Exc. Mgr. Giovanni Innocenzo Martinelli to Fides, Apostolic Vicar of Tripoli, who is in Italy for medical treatment but intends to return to the Libyan capital as soon as possible, with which he is in continuous contact.
"In the past days Masses were celebrated without problems and safely. The religious service is, therefore, assured to the remaining small community. Among the Catholics present in Libya I once again want to recall the Filipino nurses who have remained to ensure their service even in the most difficult moments. These people have left everything to serve the sick in hospitals", says the Apostolic Vicar of Tripoli. The health care situation still raises concern due to the lack of medicines. The Libyan transition authorities have in fact appealed to international organizations to send urgent medicines to local hospitals.
"The new authorities are working to ensure order and safety. In fact, priority is security. I definitely think that there is, on behalf of everyone, a firm desire to normalize the situation and restore peace " says Mgr. Martinelli. Human Rights Watch has now released a report on the alarming situation of African immigrants in Libya, victims of abuse and accused of being mercenaries in the pay of Gaddafi, "I am not able to confirm this information directly but indirectly, through some people, I was told that there is some exacerbation against African immigrants", concluded Mgr.Martinelli. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 05/09/2011)