Rome (AsiaNews) – Card Angelo Bagnasco, president of the Italian Bishops’ Conference (CEI), said that the Italian Catholic Church was close to all “those who are victims of violence”. He made the statement as he promoted a Day of Solidarity with Iraqi Christians, who are persecuted in their own country. The event includes prayers in all Italian parishes this Sunday.
“Inviting everyone to pray for the persecuted Christians of Iraq in all the churches of our country on the occasion of the Solemnity of Christ the King,” Card Bagnasco told AsiaNews, “is a concrete way to express our faith and show our closeness to all those who are victims of violence, like the people affected by the 31 October carnage in Baghdad’s Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral.”
On 31 October, a group of militants tied to al-Qaeda stormed the Syro-Catholic Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, killing two priests and taking hostage the worshippers who were inside the building. In the rescue operation by Iraq security forces, the terrorists went on a rampage. At least 55 people lost their life, and 70 more were wounded. Ten women and eight children were among the killed. On the same day, al-Qaeda issued a statement saying that every Christian in the Middle East is a “legitimate target” in their struggle.
Religious extremists and criminals have been targeting Iraqi Christians for quite some time. More than half of the community has had to flee, to northern Iraq but also abroad.
Iraq’s explosive situation calls for action to ensure security and provide economic aid as well as charity. “Italy and Europe cannot look away because what is at stake is religious freedom, which is the basis for all other forms of freedom,” Card Bagnasco said.
After the attack, many of the wounded in the Baghdad carnage were flown to Italy and France for medical treatment. In Italy, they are recuperating at the Policlinico Gemelli in Rome.
In his statement, CEI’s president also mentioned the case of Asia Bibi, a Christian (Protestant) woman sentenced to death for blasphemy in Pakistan. “Let us join the Pope’s incessant prayer for the liberation of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who bears witness to the world of the helpless strength of the Gospel,” he said.
Since news about the sentence became public, TV2000 and AsiaNews have launched an online petition in Italy and around the world on behalf of Asia Bibi, demanding her release as well as the repeal of the blasphemy law.
