Pakistan Diocese in restive region gets new bishop on Peace Day

(September 24, 2009) The new coadjutor bishop of Islamabad-Rawalpindi says he wants to foster harmony in his diocese to help his troubled country. "We are all Pakistani citizens and will continue to work for the unity of our country," Bishop Rufin Anthony said during his September 21 ordination in Rawalpindi, near the capital Islamabad. Pope Benedict XVI named him coadjutor for Pakistan's most northern diocese on August 4. "I will carry on the pastoral work of bringing people closer to God and closer to each other." The ordination coincided with the 27th United Nations' International Day of Peace, an annual effort to highlight efforts to end conflict and promote peace. Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana, apostolic nuncio to Pakistan, presided at the ordination in St. Joseph's Cathedral, joined by seven other prelates. More than 1,500 people attended the event including 70 priests, nuns, lay leaders and diplomats. The papal decree read out at the ordination ceremony in Latin, English and Urdu, the national language. As coadjutor, Bishop Anthony will assist Bishop Lobo and, when the latter's term ends, automatically succeed him. Archbishop Lawrence J. Saldanha of Lahore, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Pakistan, expressed joy at the latest addition to the conference. "There are few prelates to cater to the spiritual needs of the Christian community." Christians, including 1.3 million Catholics, account for less than 2 percent of Pakistan's 160 million people. Earlier, on February 14, the Pope appointed Father Sebastian Shah, a Punjabi, as auxiliary bishop of Lahore.