World

Pope calls for end to persecution of Christians in Pakistan

Francis tells crowds in the Vatican he feels great pain over Lahore church attacks and prays for peace in the country

Reuters March 15, 2015

PHOTO: REUTERS

ROME: Pope Francis said he felt great pain over bomb attacks outside two churches in Lahore on Sunday, departing from scripted remarks in his customary address to decry "persecution" of Christians.

"These are Christian churches. Christians are persecuted, our brothers spill their blood simply because they are Christians," the pontiff said after his Angelus address.

The attacks in Lahore, claimed by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan splinter group Jamaatul Ahrar, killed 14 people and wounded nearly 80 during Sunday services.

Read: 14 dead, 75 injured in attack on Lahore's Christian community

Francis told crowds at St Peter's Square in the Vatican that he prayed for peace in the country and that "this persecution of Christians, and that the world tries to hide it, finishes".

COMMENTS (12)

Klobania | 9 years ago | Reply Where was this pope when 3 muslims were killed in US university.... the incident that even failed gain attention of media let alone the pope

Buddy | 9 years ago | Reply @Londay Baazi: @imran The pope is only call for an end to persecution of people whom he feels responsible for. He is also only calling for peace in the country. There is nothing wrong in his calls!!! What would have been wrong if he would have propagated violence against the unknown perpetrators.

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ajeet | 9 years ago | Reply A tight slap in the face for al bakistan.

woody | 9 years ago | Reply @Londay Baazi:

Pope should mind his own business.

If the head of the Catholic Church doesn't have an unequivocal right to condemn the slaughter of Catholics then who does? What's really disappointing is the silence from the Pakistani and Muslim leadership - shame on them.

darn | 9 years ago | Reply @Londay Baazi: Christians are his business. There were Catholics among the victims.

Parvez | 9 years ago | Reply ....his call will fall on deaf ears in Pakistan

blocked by ET | 9 years ago | Reply Where was pope when imam bargahs and data darbar complex were attacked? the terrorists wants to divide us and he is helping them.

Milind | 9 years ago | Reply Stop all those conversions first... These are the root cause of antagonism & distrust towards Christians world over.

Imran | 9 years ago | Reply Somebody tell the well informed resident of Vatican that terrorists are against all citizens of Pakistan, nobody is spared by them. This isnt persecution of Christians. They have suffered too as by their other Pakistani brethren.

Londay Baazi | 9 years ago | Reply Pope should mind his own business.

Rex Minor | 9 years ago | Reply Pope Francis said he felt great pain over bomb attacks outside two churches in Lahore on Sunday, departing from scripted remarks in his customary address to decry “persecution” of Christians. Whoelse but only an inhuman will not suffer from the persecution of christians believers in Pakistan?. The European Union should impose sanctions against Pakistan which is now ruled by the military establishment who are now involved in ethnic cleansing in KPK and Baluch lands, causing retaliation from the Talibans in key cities especially on soft targets. Rex Minor

taajooram raghunandan | 9 years ago | Reply why is it the pope have to make such call for the end of chirstian percecution what happen to pakistan goverment it seems the like what is happening every day you got one sets of people killing a next set and nothing has being done to end it

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