(October 27, 2008) Pope Benedict XVI decried the killing of Christians in Iraq and
India and appealed on Sunday for political and religious leaders to defend them.
Many Christians have fled Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion and Catholic clergy have
been kidnapped or killed. In India, anti-Christian riots and rampages by Hindu extremists
have claimed at least 38 lives since late August, and destroyed dozen of churches
and left as many as 30,000 people homeless. The pope reiterated a call for «religious
leaders and to all men and women of good will about the tragedy that is developing
in some Asian countries, where Christians are victims of intolerance and cruel violence,
killed, threatened and forced to abandon their homes and wander about in search of
refuge.» «I am thinking above all of Iraq and India,» Pope Benedict told pilgrims
in St. Peter's Square. «I am sure that the ancient and noble peoples of those nations
have learned, through centuries of respectful coexistence, to appreciate the contribution
that the small, but hardworking and qualified, Christian minorities contribute to
the growth of their common countries,» Pope Benedict said. He insisted that the Christians
«are not seeking privileges, but desire only to be able to continue to live in their
country together with their fellow citizens, as they have always done.» The Holy
Father called on leaders to «spare no effort» so that «honest and loyal citizens can
count on adequate protection» from national authorities.