Papal audience 27 August 2008

APPEAL AFTER THE ANTI-CHRISTIAN ACTS OF VIOLENCE IN INDIA

I learned with deep sorrow of the acts of violence perpetrated against the Christian communities in the Indian State of Orissa, subsequent to the deplorable assassination of Swami Lakshmananda Saraswati, a Hindu leader. So far several people have been killed and various others have been injured. Centres of worship that belong to the Church have also been destroyed, as well as private homes. While I firmly condemn every attack against human life, whose sacredness demands the respect of all, I express my spiritual closeness and solidarity to the brothers and sisters in the faith who have been so harshly tried. I implore the Lord to accompany and sustain them at this time of suffering and to give them the strength to continue in the service of love on behalf of all. I ask religious leaders and civil authorities to work together to re-establish among the members of the various communities the peaceful coexistence and harmony that have always been a hallmark of Indian society.

Following the audience, Benedict XVI launches an appeal for Christian communities in the Indian state of Orissa which have been suffering violent attacks "since the deplorable murder of the Hindu leader Swami Lakshmananda Saraswati", and he invites "religious leaders and civil authorities to work together to restore among the members of the various communities the peaceful coexistence and harmony which have always been the distinguishing mark of Indian society".

DAY OF PRAYER AND FASTING FOR CHRISTIANS IN INDIA

VATICAN CITY, 5 SEP 2008 (VIS) - The presidency of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI), taking up the appeal launched by Benedict XVI, has today (the liturgical memory of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta) called all Italian dioceses to observe a day of prayer and fasting for Christians in India.

This initiative, which may also be celebrated on a different day established by the diocesan bishop, is "a sign of spiritual closeness and solidarity with our brothers and sisters of India, so sorely tried in the faith", says a CEI communique.

On 27 August, the Pope called for an immediate end to acts of violence against Christian communities in the Indian state of Orissa, which began following the murder of the Hindu leader Swami Lakshmananda Saraswati.

Benedict XVI invited "religious leaders and civil authorities to work together to restore among the members of the various communities the peaceful coexistence and harmony which have always been the distinguishing mark of Indian society".

For his part, Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil C.SS.R., major archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly of the Syro-Malabars and president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, called all the dioceses of his country to observe a day of prayer and fasting on Sunday 7 September, so as to express "solidarity with all the victims and prayer for all our missionaries in India, who are facing most trying and difficult times for the sake of the Gospel".


Day of Prayer and Solidarity with the Christian communities of Orissa

The President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India has asked all the dioceses of India to observe a day of prayer and fasting on Sunday 7 September, so as to express "solidarity with all the victims of violence against Christian communities in the state of Orissa and prayer for all the missionaries, who are facing most trying and difficult times for the sake of the Gospel".
I ask the priests and faithful in all the parishes of the Vicariate to offer prayers and expressions of solidarity with our brothers and sisters in support of their witness of faith in this time of trial.

Taking up the appeal of Pope Benedict XVI we invite "religious leaders and civil authorities to work together to restore among the members of the various communities the peaceful coexistence and harmony which have always been the distinguishing mark of Indian society".