May 01, 2012: The Archbishop of Milan, Cardinal Angelo Scola and the Church of Milan
expressed pain and offered prayer for the massacred Christians in Nigeria and Kenya.
The
office of communications of the Diocese of Milan, in a press release on Monday noted
that the Church of Milan has been preparing to welcome Christians from all over the
world for the approaching celebration of the VII World Meeting of Families, when it
received the sad news of massacres of Christians in Nigeria and Kenya.
Such
serious acts of violence and death are repeated for some time not only in Africa but
also in Asia, from Pakistan to India, it said.
The Ambrosian faithful participate
in the suffering of the persecuted churches around the world, with prayer, affection
and sympathy for the pain of families and communities so severely affected. The
Archbishop of Milan, Cardinal Angelo Scola, and the whole Diocese wish to be close
to these brothers and sisters.
In every community of the Diocese and in personal
prayer of Christians do not miss the memory of the victims and those who are so sorely
tried. The persecution against Christians and all religious persecution is unacceptable,
and that it is against the guarantee and protection of justice and freedom.
It
called upon the national and international authorities to take a strong stance and
to address such acts of violence. The faith of our Church is enlivened by the
testimony of many Christians who pay with their lives the love of Jesus Christ, the
communique noted.