The President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has brought together all the country's religions, even minority ones, to deliver a message of peace and to change his nation's mentality away from hatred.
“Christians played an important role in the creation of Pakistan, and many Christians, Hindus, and Sikhs decided to remain in the country at the time of the partition with India. A law against forced religious conversions will be enacted in Pakistan, and children will be taught in schools to respect the sacred character of all religions and all places of worship”: This is what Pakistan's President, Arif Alvi, declared during a meeting with religious leaders from different communities, held yesterday, December 21, in Islamabad, on the occasion of Christmas celebrations.
In addition to civil authorities, leaders of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Kalash, and the Baháʼí Faith were also present.
As learned by Fides, the President stated that “the world today urgently needs to spread the message of peace given by Jesus Christ and the Prophet Muhammad.” He recalled that “Jesus Christ was a great messenger of peace,” inviting his compatriots to avoid oppression, conflict, and violence and to promote peace and social harmony.
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“Today – he noted – the world needs even more to learn from the message of Jesus Christ and to show mercy and forgive others.” “The Prophet Muhammad and Jesus Christ – he continued – both exhorted their followers to practice tolerance and live in peace,” sadly recalling that humanity today witnesses oppression, wars, and massacres.
Therefore, the President urged Christians, Muslims, and members of other religions in Pakistan to “spread and promote the message of peace,” citing the words of Pope Francis and passages from the Gospel, such as “Do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12).
The President denounced the recent incident on December 3 in Sialkot, where a Sri Lankan businessman, Priyantha Kumara, was lynched by a mob on accusations of blasphemy, and he defined this tragic episode as “a cause of shame for the nation,” noting that the teaching of religions is “compassion and kindness towards one's neighbor, humility.”
The President specifically recalled that “great personalities belonging to the Christian community have served the Pakistani nation,” which, he said, “belongs to people of all religions, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, and Hindus.”
Indeed, minority religious communities “played an important role in the creation of Pakistan, and many Christians, Hindus, and Sikhs decided to remain in the country at the time of the partition with India.”
Dominican priest Father James Channan OP, director of the “Peace Center” in Lahore, who was present at the meeting, commented to Fides: “We were delighted to be present at this event. Arif Alvi, President of Pakistan, gave a very encouraging sermon on the teachings of Jesus Christ, speaking of peace, love, mercy, and forgiveness. He emphasized respect for all and interreligious harmony.”
Among the guests were the Catholic Archbishop of Islamabad, Bishop Joseph Arshad, and Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, Grand Imam of the Royal Mosque of Lahore. We are convinced that cultivating and living in good relations of dialogue and interreligious harmony contributes to creating a better Pakistan.
Meetings like this are multiplying across the country and can bring about a huge change in people's mentality in Pakistan, in order to eliminate violence, hatred, discrimination…