The Pope, Muslims and Easter

The Christian festival of Easter is being celebrated around the world by most of the principal denominations. Pope Francis is the leader of the world congregation of Catholics, but he often speaks across the denominational divide. On Good Friday, speaking from the Vatican, he condemned “unprecedented violence” by Muslim militants saying that those who carried out extremist acts or terrorism were profaning the name of God. He referred to the persecution of Christians in some Middle Eastern countries and their being forced to flee their homes. On Maundy Thursday, he washed and kissed the feet of 11 refugees, including four women and three Muslim men, one of whom was of Pakistan origin, a traditional act of humility that has a particular resonance today. He afterwards said in an unscripted comment that “all of us together, Muslims, Hindus, Catholics, Copts, Evangelicals (are) but brothers, children of the same God who want to live in peace, integrated”. In keeping with the papal desire to be inclusive, the ceremony was attended by non-Catholics and thousands of women — a move that has provoked the ire of Catholic conservatives.

The words of the Pope are for all people of every faith or nationality. His papacy has been characterised by an unprecedented reaching out to the wider world, more so than any of his predecessors for generations — perhaps ever. He has broadened the papal role into risky political areas having played a part in the brokerage of the rapprochement between America and Cuba, and has been bold in speaking out on issues of civil rights. The Christians of Pakistan, many of whom are Catholics, will have heard the Easter message from Pope Francis and doubtless reflected upon their own unhappy position in their native land. Many have fled, some to the refugee camps in Thailand and elsewhere fearful of the persecution they experience in Pakistan. The Easter message from the Vatican will have rung hollow for many of them, as it would for every other minority, whatever their faith, in the country. Despite this, we wish all who celebrate it a happy, and above all peaceful, Easter.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 27^th, 2016.

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