Catholics in Pakistan pray for peace prior to Easter

(March 31, 2010) In Pakistan, Church leaders in the eastern archdiocese of Lahore, have urged Catholics to bring good news to “terrorized citizens” in their Easter messages, as Pakistan copes with a range of catastrophes.
Holy Week this year is set against a backdrop of the war against terror and suicide bombings. Workers at several Catholic institutes have died and many have lost their houses in recent bomb blasts across the country. There are also the worst power shortages the country has ever seen. And price hikes are making it harder for the poor to meet their daily needs. Archbishop Lawrence Saldanha of Lahore in his Easter message for the Catholic periodical entitled “ Light in Darkness”, wrote - “We are passing through a dark and difficult period. People are afraid and very worried about suicide bomb blasts and their aftermath. But the feast of Easter brings us a message of hope and joy amid these difficult circumstances. Vicar General Father Andrew Nisari told UCA News that the Easter preparations in the archdiocese were very solemn. “The prayers are being conducted as usual but the pomp and zeal are no more,” he said.