Coptic Orthodox Bishop calls for peace

(Vatican Radio) - “It is a time to calm the situation down, it’s a time to create peace. It’s a time that people will go to help one another to calm down.” That was the message of Coptic Orthodox Bishop Thomas of el Qusiya and Meir, in Egypt.

He was speaking to Vatican Radio’s Marie Duhamel as violent protests continue against a film that many Muslims consider insulting to Mohammad, the founder of their religion. Demonstrations against the film in Egypt and Libya last week sparked worldwide protests. Bishop Thomas noted that there were different reactions to the film, but called for wisdom to prevail. “Of course there are different levels of reactions; of course there are some wise people in the communities where they would understand the situation, where they would understand that the concept of collective punishment is not right. Because if someone would do something, than the person who did it would be punished or accused, but not a collective punishment.”

At the same time, he said the situation was still very volatile. “On the other hand there are some other people that are angry. But the whole situation, we need to deal with it with a sensitivity, and to calm the situation. And not accuse one another, because, simply, it is a time to calm the situation down, it’s a time to create peace. It’s a time that people will go to help one another to calm down.”

Listen to the complete interview of Coptic Orthodox Bishop Thomas with Marie Duhamel: