Faisalabad Muslims, Christians and Sikhs pray with the Pope for an end to the pandemic
People met yesterday for the Day of Prayer and Fasting. Ordinary believers joined religious leaders in invoking the Lord. For Bishop Indrias Rehmat, only through prayer, fasting and charity can humanity overcome the pandemic crisis and return to normal. God “will listen to us and save us from this pandemic,” said Muslim leader Maulana Mubashar.
Faisalabad (AsiaNews) – Pakistani Muslims, Christians and Sikhs met yesterday at the residence of the Bishop of Faisalabad to pray and fast against the coronavirus along with Pope Francis. The initiative is a response to an appeal from the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity, supported by the pontiff.
Organised by the diocese and a network of humanitarian organisations active in Faisalabad, the meeting saw the participation of religious leaders, priests, nuns, activists, media representatives as well as ordinary believers, including teachers, students and mothers with children.
In accordance with their own creed, participants sang hymns to the Lord; religious representatives then lit candles for peace and hope.
Addressing those present, Bishop Indrias Rehmat of Faisalabad said that only through prayer, fasting and charity can humanity overcome the pandemic crisis and return to normal. He humbly called on all religions to remain united in this moment of crisis, for only this way God “may have mercy on us and rid us of this virus”.
For Father Khalid Rashid Asi, director of the Diocesan Commission for Harmony and Interfaith Dialogue, when various confessions come together to pray, every obstacle can be overcome, even a deadly disease like COVID-19
Heading the message of unity, Muslim cleric Maulana Mubashar said: “Today we vow together that we will keep on helping the poor with our acts of charity. For this noble purpose we all have to be united despite having different faiths, sects and languages.” As God “is one, [. . .] he wants us to be united and serve” those in need. “He will listen to us and save us from this pandemic.”
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