Monday, August 3, 2009

Pope condemns Gojra incident, appeals for peace

VATICAN CITY :Pope Benedict XVI on Monday urged Pakistanis to turn their backs on violence after seven Christians were killed in bloody riots in the country.

"In the name of God, (the pope) calls on everyone to renounce the violence that has caused so much suffering and start working towards peace," said a telegramme from Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone in the name of Benedict.

The head of the Roman Catholic Church was "deeply saddened to learn of the senseless attack against the Christian community of Gojra," the remote village in Punjab province where the violence occurred, the message said.

He sent condolences to the families of the victims and urged Pakistani Christians to build a society where all communities displayed "mutual respect" towards each other.

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