Kamran Chaudhry

Arif Sadiq began carrying passengers as a vow to the Virgin Mary. At that time, he could not have children; now he has five. This year he drove 60 Christians from a settlement near Lahore. During the trip, passengers sang for the Virgin. At the shrine, they prayed, gave offerings, and attended the final Mass.

Sister Athens Angeles passed away suddenly from a brain haemorrhage. From the Philippines, she moved to Pakistan in 2000 where she helped create Internet sites, train students, and offer free lessons to poor children.

Four Taliban terrorists, who targeted Christians on Warsak Road, blew themselves up after a gun fight with police that lasted 40 minutes. Farooq Masih’s house went to pieces, but he and his family managed to get to safety. The attackers wanted to kidnap women and children.

The faithful attended the Mass in honour of the Saint of Calcutta. The canonisation in St Peter's was broadcast live. The Missionaries of Charity showed three relics preserved in their home, which welcomes women and girls with disabilities. Archbishop tells Catholics “not to be afraid to become saints”.

The ordination ceremony took place yesterday in the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in the presence of hundreds of people. This year 18 priests have already been ordained in Pakistan. The rise of terrorism, beginning with the attacks of 11 September 2001 in the United States, "increased the local vocations."

Pakistan ranks as the fourth most dangerous country for journalists with 115 killings between 1990 and 2015, 28 just last year. Activists and journalists rally in support of Ary News workers whose offices were attacked two days ago.

The Bethania Hospital is run by the Archdiocese of Lahore. Physicians also fight stigma associated with the disease through counselling and outreach to locals. Each year, 70,000 people die of TB in Pakistan.

The bishop of Faisalabad tells AsiaNews about his first meeting with the founder of the Missionaries of Charity. "I was about to be ordained priest, and was thrilled. She told that, that was ‘nice, but not enough. The world needs good priests'." Muslims respect her, an example for the world.

During the Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan people tie a sacred thread on their friend's wrist. For the first time the Hindu community was able to celebrate in public, and many Muslims helped in the preparation. Eventually all those present signed a statement against religious hatred: "We must protect our multiculturalism".

On National Minorities Day, Msgr. Arshad Joseph, bishop of Faisalabad, calls for "non-Muslim groups to be included as part of society in recognition of their merits". The Archbishop of Lahore says that "the founder of Pakistan had promised respect for all religions, but now we are in the throes of intolerance".

On 2 September, WYD participants will share their experience with their peers in Faisalabad. Haroon Tariq, 19, spoke about how the trip changed his life, struck by how strangers and foreigners treated him. "The young people guided me as if we were old friends,” united by Christ.

The bakery "S. Mohkam-ud-Din & Sons" was opened in 1879, two years after the construction of the Cathedral of the Resurrection. From the start the Muslim confectioners have developed links with Christians. The shop produces cakes and pastries typical of Christmas and Easter. Christian symbols on display in shop window.