The situation is still tense.

AFRICA/EGYPT - “The situation is tense and confusing” following the clashes in Cairo, PMS National Director speaks to Fides

Cairo (Agenzia Fides) - “The situation is still tense. Yesterday, 14 young Christians were killed in Moqattam. There are also tensions in Giza. The protest by the Copts is also still going after four days in front of the national TV headquarters,” Fr Nabil Fayez Antoun, PMS National Director, in Cairo, Egypt tells Fides. In Mansheya, the neighbourhood of the garbage collectors (called “Zabbaleen”), which is found at the foot of the Moqattam hills, and where there were clashes between Muslims and Protestants about the destruction of the Church in Atfih, in Helwan (see Fides 7/3/2011 e 9/3/2011)
“The youth revolution set off the different forces present in Egyptian society, thus presenting all together the various issues that have long troubled Egypt,” says Fr Nabil. “In addition, the economic situation is very critical. In short, we are undergoing a very confusing phase which is difficult to navigate. However, we hope that reason will prevail over violence.”
Fr Nabil adds, however, that with the change pressed upon Egypt by the young people's revolution, perhaps some room to breathe can open up also to Christians. “I held a meeting in the cathedral, which was also televised, with some young people from Tahrir Square and representatives of various parties to discuss how Christians may also partake in this new reality, to make their contribution to the common good,” concludes the National Director of the PMS in Egypt. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 10/3/2011)

AFRICA/TUNISIA - “The sense of Tunisian solidarity with the Libyan refugees is amazing,” says the Bishop of Tunis

Tunis (Agenzia Fides) - “The sense of Tunisian solidarity with the Libyan refugees is amazing. They are the ones providing food to the 10,000 people amassed in Ben Gardane, the border crossing between Tunisia and Libya, where foreign workers fleeing Libya are being directed,” Bishop Elias Maroun Lahham of Tunis tells Fides. On 8 March the three Catholic nuns who work in collaboration with a group of Protestant laity to provide assistance to thousands of foreigners fleeing Libya (see Fides 03/03/2011) have returned to Ben Gardane. “The sisters have cooked for 10,000 people every day. The food has been donated by the locals. The sense of solidarity of the Tunisian is amazing. In addition to the Protestant association, assistance is offered in collaboration with Caritas France, USA, Lebanon and Tunisia,” says Bishop Lahham.
“Religious sisters will return to Ben Gardane next week. We need to wait and see if the Libyan border will be open. Up until two or three days ago, it was estimated that were between eight and ten thousand foreign workers stranded on the other side of the Tunisian-Libyan border, most of whom come from the Philippines and Bangladesh. Italy and France have offered to repatriate them as soon as possible,” says the Bishop of Tunis.
Bishop Lahham also stresses that “apart from rare isolated incidents, such as the drama of the Bangladeshi citizens who dived from a ship into the sea in an attempt to swim to Italy and drowned, these people do not want to come to Europe but rather want to return to their countries.” (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 10/3/2011)

ASIA/PAKISTAN - Official recognition of Shahbaz Bhatti by institutions

Lahore (Agenzia Fides) – Streets that lead to the village of Kushpur, in Punjab, will be named after Shahbaz Bhatti; the President of Pakistan Ali Zardari – by request from the executive, led by Premier Gilani – has decided to confer Bhatti with the coveted “Hilal-e-Shuja’at”, awarded posthumously, which is a prize for personalities who have distinguished themselves as “servants of the nation.” Sources in the local Catholic community report to Fides that these are some of the ways which public institutions of Pakistan wish to honour the memory of Shahbaz Bhatti, the Minister for Religious Minorities who was killed in Islamabad on 2 March.
It was the Prime Minister of the province of Punjab, Muslim Shahbaz Sharif, who announced that in Kushpur, the Catholic village where Bhatti was born in the diocese of Faisalabad, several roads and public places will bear his name.
In Punjab, Kamran Michael, Provincial Minister for Human Rights and Minority Affairs, also stressed that Shahbaz Bhatti was “an ambassador of peace”, calling on the Federal Government to give him due honours.
The idea has already been accepted by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Raza Gilani, who nominated Bhatti for the “Hilal-e-Shuja’at” posthumously, one of the highest existing awards at a civil level throughout the Country.
Meanwhile, Christians continue to hold prayer vigils and ceremonies of remembrance, reading and spreading Bhatti's spiritual testament.
Yesterday a prayer meeting dedicated to the Minister was held in Karachi, in the Catholic Church of the Holy Trinity, in the presence of many religious leaders and politicians who have always premised the name of Bhatti with the word “martyr”.
In addition, at an interreligious ceremony in memory of Bhatti, held yesterday in Lahore, many Christian leaders, human rights activists and Muslim leaders attended, including Mullah Abdul Khabeer Azad from the Badshahi Mosque. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 10/3/2011)

ASIA/PAKISTAN - Pakistani priests meet the Pope: “From him, words of hope”

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - "We explained to the Pope the situation of Christians in Pakistan, where to witness to the faith can sometimes lead to death. The Holy Father seemed very concerned. He expressed his solidarity and his support and assured us of his prayers,” reports Fr Shahzad Niamat to Fides, the Pakistani priest from the Diocese of Multan, who this morning participated at the Audience granted by Pope Benedict XVI to the clergy of Rome. Fr Niamat was able to speak with the Pope for a few minutes, thereby representing Pakistani priests, religious and seminarians in Rome.
“We also thanked the Holy Father for his words and his recent appeals to Minister Shahbaz Bhatti on behalf of Asia Bibi, in regards to the blasphemy law. The Holy Father communicated to us his hope that things may change and that in Pakistan there may be full respect for human dignity and religious freedom. He gave us his Blessing,” recounts Fr Niamat.
Fr Niamat, on behalf of Pakistani priests, religious, seminarians and lay Catholics and the Association of Pakistani Christians in Italy, he confirms to Fides, are not participating in the demonstration organised for today at 3,00 pm, in front of the Pakistani Embassy in Rome, as they believe that the initiative is too antagonistic and has been too politicised. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 10/03/2011)

Posted via email from deaconjohn's posterous