Libyan unrest reflects legitimate requests, church official says
(February 23, 2011) The top church official in Libya said the country's current
unrest was based on legitimate requests by young people for a better future. Libya,
unlike Tunisia and Egypt, has the resources to satisfy those requests, Bishop Giovanni
Martinelli, the apostolic vicar of Tripoli, told Vatican Radio on Monday. "The people
are asking for some things that are just. And they are fundamental requests of young
people, that is to be able to have a house, a better salary, a job." The Bishop said
Libya is relatively well-off, and perhaps here is where the crisis arises. Young people
see a country that could help them, but doesn't do so.” Bishop Martinelli’s comments
came after several days of protests and armed retaliation by the forces of Libyan
leader Moammar Gadhafi. Several hundred people were reported killed during the protests
and parts of the country were said to be under opposition control. The prelate said
it was difficult to foresee a resolution of the crisis. He said the Catholic Church,
which represents a tiny minority in Libya, wanted above all a form of reconciliation,
that allows the Libyan people to have what is just. The important thing now is to
reopen dialogue between the factions. Bishop Martinelli said that Catholic personnel
and institutions were not experiencing particular problems during the unrest, but
added that he had been unable to communicate for days with two communities of women
religious working south of Benghazi, the center of the protests. According to
Vatican statistics, 1.8% of the nation’s 6.7 million people are Catholic.