Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lahore (Agenzia Fides) - "The situation is critical. Many people are afraid of an attack by Muslims in Youhanabad after the traditional Friday prayers in nearby mosques. But there is a massive deployment of police. We, the church of San Giovanni, today will fast and pray together, then we will celebrate the Via Crucis. Christ and his suffering are our only reference" says in an interview with Agenzia Fides, Fr. Francis Gulzar, Catholic parish priest of the church of San Giovanni, in Youhanabad, suburb of Lahore, hit on March 15 by a suicide bombing of the Taliban, along with the Protestant Church of Christ.
The pastor said that in the moments and days after the attack violent reactions of some Christians have complicated the situation. "The act of lynching two people was terrible, we firmly condemned it. We invite everyone to remain calm".
Fr. Gulzar confirms to Fides that many families have left the area for fear of abuse on children and women. "Today we pray and fast. We have the testimony of the faith of our martyrs who sacrificed themselves to save all of us who were in the church at the time of the attack. Now we have to start all over again". (PA) (Agenzia Fides 20/03/2015)
