Asia Bibi, the Catholic woman condemned to death under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, has had her conviction overturned by the Supreme Court in Pakistan. She has now been released from jail. Observers who’ve watched the Bibi’s story unfold over the past eight years say the Pakistani Supreme Court’s decision to acquit the mother of five of Read more
A Cardinal-elect, Archbishop Joseph Coutts of Karachi, says a movie about St Francis of Assisi led him to become a priest. Coutts, who is a doctor of philosophy, is the second Pakistani to become a cardinal. The late Joseph Cordeiro was made a cardinal in 1973. Coutts is known for his services for interfaith relations, Read more
A Pakistani Catholic was beaten to death by hospital staff after he objected to his pregnant sister being slapped. The attack has been condemned by the country’s church leaders. Suneel Saleem, 34, was critically injured when about 20 security guards and 14 doctors punched and attacked him and other family members with batons, chairs and belts. Read more
Suicide bombers attacked a Christian church in Quetta, Pakistan on Sunday. The Bethel Memorial Methodist Church, which was targeted in the attack, was on high alert as Christian places of worship are often targeted by Islamist extremists over the Christmas season. Over 400 people were attending a service at the time of the attack. Nine Read more
When it comes to Christians, news from Pakistan in recent years has seldom been good. An increasingly beleaguered minority in an Islamic republic, they have become targets of harassment and violent attacks, often motivated by tensions and conflicts between Islamists and the West on the world stage. This week, however, brings a notable exception. On Read more
The government of Pakistan will hold a state funeral on 19 August for “Pakistan’s Mother Teresa” – a German nun who devoted her life to eradicating Hansen’s disease (leprosy). Sister Ruth Katharina Martha Pfau, who was a member of the Daughters of the Heart of Mary died last week at the age of 87. Pakistani Read more
Pakistani Christians have suffered much persecution from the Islamic State. However the Archbishop of Lahore, Sebastian Shaw, says Pakistani Christians are realizing that God gave them a special calling to be his witnesses and work for the human rights and dignity of all in their country. Read more
The Vatican denied media reports last week that Pope Francis had accepted an invitation to visit Pakistan later this year. Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said told the Catholic Register that there is “currently no travel program to Pakistan being studied.” Pakistani Shipping Minister Kamran Michael and Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousaf told reporters Read more
Pope Francis has accepted an invitation to visit Pakistan this year, said a Pakistan media report. The state-run Associated Press of Pakistan reported that the pontiff has accepted the invitation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The invitation was extended by Pakistan’s Ports and Shipping Minister Kamran Michael, a Catholic, and Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Yusuf Read more
Catholic leaders in Pakistan will appeal to the nation’s Supreme Court against the death sentence given to a Christian woman for blasphemy. Last week, the Lahore High Court upheld the sentence handed down in 2010 against Asia Bibi. She is the first Christian woman ever to be given the death sentence in Pakistan. One source Read more