(ANS - Rome) - The parish of God the Merciful Father in Tor Tre Teste, Rome is twinned with a parish in Okara, about 100 km from Lahore. Yesterday in Tor Tre Teste, Mass was celebrated for the victims of last Sunday’s attacks in Pakistan. The Salesian Bishop. Enrico dal Covolo, Rector of the Pontifical Lateran University, presided. He said, among other things: "How long do we have to watch helplessly this constant and cruel persecution?"

Bishop dal Covolo began his homily by saying: "In his solemn testament to the disciples at the Last Supper Jesus prophesied: 'An hour is coming when those who kill you will think that by doing so they are offering worship to God'. And that hour has now come! “Jesus will be in agony until the end of the world,” wrote Blaise Pascal. And today we would like, in some way, to touch, kiss and venerate the blessed body of Jesus who suffers and dies in the many martyrs of our time."

"Many brothers and sisters are persecuted because of their friendship with the Lord - said the rector of the Pontifical Lateran University -. Warning that this for us! What an example for our Christian lives often lukewarm and insipid! "

The multiplication of the attacks, executions and the martyrdoms lead but the prelate to put even the uncomfortable questions: "How long we will have to watch helplessly in this constant and cruel persecution? Until - finally asked the prelate - we'll have to wait for the powerful of this world scomodino in defense of the weak?".

The Eucharistic celebration, which preceded the screening of some photos of Pakistan and the church dedicated to St. John attacked by terrorists, also attended a citizen originally from Lahore, converted to Christianity. "Only international pressure on the government of Pakistan can prevent what is happening and give more security to churches and Christians," said the man in “Roma Sette”, information organ of the diocese of Rome.

Published 18/03/2015