Kamran Chaudhry

During a meeting with the pontiff in Rome, two Pakistani cabinet ministers extended the invitation. “We welcome the Catholic spiritual leader,” said Kumar Vankwani, a Pakistani MP. “We have not received any written information from Rome", said the bishop of Faisalabad. In his view, the visit is not likely to take place this year, but "If he comes, it will be a great encouragement and show of solidarity for Pakistan where people have been facing terrorism for years."

The Islamic radicals are protesting in the streets around the country. The confessed murderer of the former governor of Punjab Salman Taseer was hanged this morning. The choice of President Hussain not to grant a pardon is "courageous. Justice has been done despite the pressure of the fundamentalists ". Director of Justice and Peace: "Taseer was killed because he defended Asia Bibi, who still languishes in jail."

Since December 2014, Pakistan has been ranked third in terms of executions worldwide. For Catholic priest, the pope’s statement “was widely covered in the newspapers; at least everybody got to read it.” Muslims react negatively. “The pope’s appeal is part of the international pressure. They should avoid telling us what to do,” said one. “We are Muslims and will follow our own law”.

The Provincial Assembly of Sindh wants to introduce a law to control the preaching of the ulema. The sermons will be released only if previously approved by the government. All Islamic parties oppose the draft. The Catholic Church points out the pros and cons. "The new law will curb sectarianism," but "in the future we may also be asked to register our homilies".

Drug companies have reduced supplies in order to push up prices and profits. Price gauging has distorted the retail end of the market. Some antibiotics, powdered milk, bone disease and eye medications have all but disappeared. Prices jumped 15 per cent in Punjab, 7 per cent in Sindh.

Protesters slam the government’s inability to fight Islamic extremism. “Despite government denials, there is evidence that Daesh is active in Pakistan. Banned organisations still operate freely in Punjab." After the National Action Plan was adopted, the legal system was not reformed. Military source blames “hostile intelligence agencies” for terrorism.

The women’s branch of Jamat-e-Islami, a conservative party, organised a protest near stalls selling Valentine Day accessories. For protesters, “Western” culture and consumerism are corrupting children. On the feast day of Saint Valentine, Catholics will visit a centre for the disabled in Lahore. Saint Valentine’s story is different from what appears in ads.

The Council for the Islamic ideology has proposed to amend the blasphemy laws in order to bring them into line with the Koran and the Sunna. Catholics fear a further tightening of laws which have already led to violence. Between 1987 and 2014, 166 Christians sentenced to death for insulting Muhammad; another 25 cases in 2015.

Students from two Catholic high schools take part in Jubilee Mass with parents and teachers. For principal, “Young people are compassionate by nature,” and adults “should stimulate their interest towards others" in the Year of Jubilee.

Living in a tent with eight children and a drug-addicted husband, she enrolled in a course to learn crafts in July 2015. Now she sells her hand-made products for a small profit. Some 43,000 Gypsies live in Lahore in precarious conditions.

Overnight on 6 January, a fire partially destroyed the Christian place of worship. Some media have blamed Christian-Muslim tensions for the incident. For local clergyman, this is “a conspiracy to stoke tensions in the area”. Some “people started reporting on it without getting the facts straight”.

Msgr. Arshad opened the Holy Door in the Cathedral of the city yesterday, December 20. "In the last year there have been many attacks on the Christian minority, so it is crucial to promote forgiveness and tolerance, starting within the schools." 2016, Year of Education, to bring the message of the Jubilee of Mercy to all.