2 church bombings in Pakistan; Pope, bishops lament persecution of Christians

March 16, 2015

Members of the Taliban launched suicide bombings against a Catholic church and a Protestant church in Pakistan, leaving at least 14 dead.

Arriving at the bombed church in the afternoon, Archbishop Sebastian Shah of Lahore complained, “The government has failed to protect us.” The bishop said that Christians have pleaded for protection, warning of impending attacks, to no avail. He praised the members of the congregation who had blocked the terrorists from entering the church, at the cost of their own lives, describing them as martyrs. “We are already on the road to Calvary,” the archbishop said.

Later the Pakistani bishps’ conference issued a statement deploring the bombing and calling upon all of the people of Pakistan to “stand alongside their Christian brothers and sisters, against extremist forces.” The statement demanded “extraordinary measures” by the government to protect religious minorities, and instructed Christians to “avoid violence and to cooperate with the police in their investigations.”

“With pain, with much pain, I learned of the terrorist attacks today against two churches in the city Lahore in Pakistan, which have resulted in numerous deaths and injuries,” Pope Francis said following his March 15 Angelus address.

“These are Christian churches: Christians are being persecuted,” he continued. “Our brothers’ and sisters’ blood is shed only because they are Christians.”

“As I assure you of my prayers for the victims and their families, I ask the Lord, I beseech the Lord, source of all good, for the gift of peace and harmony to this country,” he added, as he prayed “that this persecution against Christians, which the world tries to hide, might end, and that there be peace.”

 

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Further information:

• Pakistan mourns for victims of deadly Taliban church attacks (AP)
• Twin bombings at churches in Pakistan kill 14, wound 78 (Reuters)
• Church attacks: we are already on the road to Calvary, says Lahore bishop (AsiaNews)
• Bishops call on Pakistanis to stand with fellow Christians, against extremists (AsiaNews)
• Pope Francis condemns attacks against Christians in Pakistan (Vatican Radio)