CNA Staff, Mar 4, 2021 / 10:34 am (CNA).- Ten years after his assassination, various world leaders have praised the life and death of Shahbaz Bhatti, a Pakistan cabinet minister killed after defending religious minorities persecuted under the country’s strict blasphemy law.
His relatives, collaborators, and victims of persecution praised his example and urged continued work.
“My beloved brother, Shahbaz Bhatti, was willing to risk his own life in his fight for the rights of religious minorities in Pakistan,” said Peter Bhatti. “He challenged the forces of violence and darkness who threatened him daily, and refused to be silent… Some of us must take small sacrifices in the fight for justice and equality. My brother Shahbaz Bhatti made the ultimate sacrifice of his life.”
New archbishop of Karachi sets out priorities
Bishop Trevas to focus on communion, helping youth, building a priestly fraternity and providing education for the poor
The newly appointed archbishop of Karachi has outlined his key priorities for Pakistan’s largest archdiocese.
Bishop Benny Mario Trevas of Multan was appointed by Pope Francis on Feb. 11 after Cardinal Joseph Coutts stepped down on reaching the canonical retirement age of 75 in July 2020.
In his first comments after the announcement of his appointment, he said he has chosen “Communion” as his motto, which is deep in its meaning in the context of unity in diversity, communion within the clergy, communion within parishes, communion among Protestant brethren and communion with all people living in Pakistan.
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First Camillian house inaugurated in Pakistan
Cardinal Coutts welcomes the congregation at an event that also marked his 50 years of priesthood
Camillian Father Mushtaq Anjum (right), Cardinal Joseph Coutts and Father Saleh Diego at the ribbon-cutting ceremony in Karachi of the first Camillian house in Pakistan on Jan. 22. (Photo courtesy of Father Mushtaq Anjum)
Camillians have officially initiated their mission in Pakistan with the inauguration of their first community house in the country.
Cardinal Joseph Coutts, the archbishop of Karachi, blessed the building in a ceremony attended by more than 50 that included celebrations of the cardinal’s 50 years of priesthood.
16. December 2020 - 13:40
Cardinal Joseph Coutts of Karachi invited members of Christian Churches and other faiths at an event at St. Patrick s Cathedral to celebrate harmony, peace and solidarity in the spirit of Christmas.
Cardinal Joseph Coutts, the Archbishop of the southern port city of Karachi, invited Christians and representatives of other religions to the pre-Christmas celebration at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on December 12. “We should not only gather to celebrate but we have to be united in each other’s difficult times,” Cardinal Coutts the participants.
United amid difficulties
He recalled that in 2015, the archdiocese had gathered together the city’s religious leaders after the attack by Islamic State terrorists on the Ismaili community that left 45 people dead. “We invited religious leaders and requested them to pray for the victims and their families,” he said, noting, “The event was widely covered by international and national media.”