Historic gesture by the Pope before his trip to Spain: signs the beatification of 80 martyrs of the Red Terror

The Pope has authorized today the decree recognizing the martyrdom of Francisco González de Córdova and 79 companions — 67 priests, 3 Carmelites, 3 seminarians and 7 laypeople — murdered during the religious persecution of the thirties in northern Spain. 

The recognition comes just weeks before the papal visit and opens an uncomfortable scenario for La Moncloa, which maintains in force the Law of Democratic Memory while Rome elevates to the altars the victims of revolutionary terror in the republican rearguard.

In the audience this Friday, May 22, with Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, Leo XIV gave the green light to the decree recognizing the martyrdom of the Servants of God Francisco González de Córdova and 79 companions, victims of the religious persecution unleashed in the republican zone between 1936 and 1937. 

The decision, far from going unnoticed, comes preceded by a diplomatic agenda that gives it singular prominence: the Pontiff is finalizing preparations for his first apostolic journey to Spain, whose program includes an audience with the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez.

The prison-ship Alfonso Pérez and the sea as a tomb

The documentation of the process, instructed by the Archdiocese of Burgos and the Diocese of Santander, records with forensic precision the circumstances of deaths that owe nothing to propaganda and everything to contemporary testimonies. 

Some were thrown into the Cantabrian Sea with hands and feet tied and a stone on their bodies. 

Others disappeared in the hold of the prison-ship Alfonso Pérez, transformed into a floating prison by the authorities of the Popular Front in the port of Santander. 

Several were executed and subsequently burned. The remaining ones perished in makeshift concentration camps, overcrowded, without medical or religious assistance.

The group is composed of 67 diocesan priests, 3 Discalced Carmelite religious, 3 seminarians and 7 laypeople. Men and women to whom apostasy was offered as the price of life, and who rejected it.

«Let me be the last, so I can absolve them all»

The postulator of the cause presents the figure of the blessed at whose head the process is titled: Francisco González de Córdova, parish priest of Santa María del Puerto in Santoña. Forty-eight years. Once the arrest order for the clergy was known, he was urged to flee. 

He refused. 

The prohibition to celebrate the mass and administer the sacraments did not make him desist: he continued doing it clandestinely until he was arrested and confined in the hold of the Alfonso Pérez.

There, between the stench, the darkness and the terror of the companions who knew the fate that awaited them, he organized the spiritual life of captivity: he confessed those who approached him, prayed the rosary every day, encouraged those who had fallen into despair. When the night of the executions came, he made the firing squad a single request.

«Allow me to be the last, so I can absolve and bless my companions».

It was granted. He died absolving. It is probably the highest priestly scene produced in 20th-century Spain, and the universal Church has just recognized it.

The context: a visit and a law

The signing of the decree takes place in a politically delicate moment. Leo XIV is scheduled to visit Spain in the next months — the itinerary has not yet been officially finalized by the Holy See Press Office, but Vatican sources confirm that the visit will include a meeting with the President of the Government. 

Sánchez will receive the Pontiff while his Executive maintains in force the Law 20/2022 of Democratic Memory, whose provisions, as the Spanish Episcopal Conference and various jurists have repeatedly warned, present tensions with the historical symmetry required by both documentary truth and the principle of non-discrimination by religious reasons.

The elevation to the altars of 80 martyrs murdered in the republican rearguard — not by belonging to a side, but by being priests, religious or Christians who refused to apostatize — reminds, without needing underlines, that the religious persecution of the thirties was a historical fact of primary order, with more than 6,800 clerics murdered only in territory under control of the Popular Front. 

Rome does not enter the German political debate, but by canonizing its victims it configures.

A pontifical gesture that is read from Madrid

Those who know the praxis of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints know that the promulgation schedule of decrees is never casual. 

The files can be accelerated or rest for years in function of pastoral, geopolitical and ecclesial criteria that the Pontiff weighs personally in the audience with the prefect. 

That Leo XIV has signed this decree in this May, weeks before his journey to Spain, admits a single reasonable reading: the Pope wants to arrive to Madrid with the martyrs ahead.

It is not a gesture of confrontation; it is a gesture of truth. And a gesture, especially, of continuity with its predecessors — John Paul II beatified 233 Spanish martyrs in 2001; Benedict XVI beatified 498 in 2007; Francis beatified 522 in various ceremonies. 

The beatification of the martyrs of Santander adds thus to a process that already exceeds the 2,100 blessed and saints recognized by the Church among the victims of the Spanish religious persecution of the 20th century.

The meeting between the Pontiff and the President of the Government will have, therefore, a difficult-to-ignore background: the one of eighty men of Santander who, before being thrown into the Cantabrian Sea, chose to die forgiving.

Toni Faber, the Austrian priest critical of celibacy, could be forced into early retirement

The Austrian priest Toni Faber, parish priest at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna for nearly three decades, may be living his final months at the head of one of Europe’s most emblematic parishes. 

According to the German media outlet Katholisch.de, the Archdiocese of Vienna is holding talks about the priest’s future, a figure who has been marked for years by controversy, media appearances, and critical statements on sensitive issues within the Church.

The Archdiocese spokesperson confirmed that Vienna’s Archbishop, Josef Grünwidl, has been in dialogue with Faber for some time about the future of the parish and of the priest himself, although he avoided going into details. 

A possible departure would also mark a shift from the episcopal pontificate of Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, who for years publicly supported the well-known “priest of Viennese high society.”

A media-savvy and controversial priest

Toni Faber became a regular figure in Austrian public life not only through his pastoral work, but also through his constant presence at social and media events. 

The priest attends the famous Vienna Opera Ball each year accompanied by Natalie Nemec, whom he describes as a “very good friend,” although his statements about the relationship have generated ongoing speculation.

This aspect in particular appears to have made the new Archbishop Grünwidl uncomfortable, who shortly after taking office acknowledged feeling uneasy about the “solution” Faber had found regarding priestly celibacy.

The situation is not insignificant, especially since Faber himself has repeatedly been critical of the mandatory nature of celibacy for Latin-rite priests.

Open criticism of mandatory celibacy

In recent statements to the Austrian public broadcaster ORF, Faber directly questioned the necessary link between priesthood and celibate life.

“Must the Catholic priestly way of life necessarily remain tied to celibacy forever?”, the priest asked.

While he affirmed that he remains faithful to the celibate life he assumed with his priestly vocation, he also downplayed the automatic spiritual value attributed to celibacy, considering the idea that someone is holier simply for living without a family to be “completely overrated.”

Paradoxically, Archbishop Grünwidl himself shares some of these positions. The prelate has publicly defended that the possibility of married priests should be examined, recalling that celibacy was not always mandatory in the history of the Church.

Doctrinal similarities, differences in style

The differences between both men seem not to reside so much in ideological issues as in the way they exercise the priestly ministry and present themselves to the public.

Faber has been involved in numerous controversies over the past decades. In 2009 he lost his driving license after being caught driving under the influence of alcohol. 

On another occasion he authorized the installation of a work by a Scientology sympathizer as a Lenten cloth in St. Stephen’s Cathedral, a decision that was later corrected by the cathedral chapter.

This is compounded by controversial statements during the pandemic, comments about European Catholics, and frequent appearances in Viennese high-society circles, which led to Austrian media nicknaming him “the lion of the jet set.”

Faber always rejected that label and preferred to define himself as a “city pastor” rather than a “society priest.”

The end of an era in Vienna

Ordained priest and appointed head of St. Stephen’s parish in 1997, Toni Faber became over the years one of the most recognized faces of contemporary Austrian Catholicism. 

His defenders highlight his ability to attract people distant from the Church and to favor returns to religious practice. According to his own data, he accompanies between 80 and 100 people each year in processes of return to the Church.

However, the arrival of Grünwidl appears to mark a new stage for the Vienna Archdiocese. According to Austrian press, Faber’s possible retirement could coincide with the 30th anniversary of his appointment as parish priest, in July 2027.

The priest himself has recently admitted that he is already considering the possibility of retiring early, although he hopes to continue carrying out pastoral duties as an ordinary priest within the cathedral.

Pagliarani asks his priests for prudence, charity, love, and humility to face the consecrations

The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X has made public an extensive letter from its Superior General, Abbot Davide Pagliarani, addressed to the priests and members of the Fraternity on the occasion of the upcoming episcopal consecrations scheduled for July 1. 

The text, dated in Menzingen on March 7, aims to offer a spiritual and moral preparation for a decision that the leadership of the FSSPX considers necessary for the preservation of the faith and of Catholic Tradition.

In the letter, Pagliarani repeatedly insists that the consecrations must not be approached in a spirit of human combat or triumph, but rather with supernatural prudence, humility, and charity. 

The Superior General also warns against bitterness, resentment, and any attitude of contempt toward the ecclesiastical hierarchy, even in the event of a possible canonical condemnation, and presents the Virgin Mary as a model of strength and charity in the midst of suffering.

Et nos credidimus caritati.

“Also we have believed in charity.”

1 Jn 4,16

Dear confreres and members of the Fraternity:

With great joy, after the public announcement of the consecrations and following a whole series of explanations, I can finally address you in a more personal way. 

I wish to share some advice to help us in our moral and spiritual preparation as members of the Fraternity. This preparation is what will enable us, in turn, to accompany the faithful appropriately.

The necessity and the context of the consecrations

There is no shortage of apologetic arguments: it is a matter of preserving the faith and all the means necessary to transmit it and to give life to the souls. If one could already speak of a state of necessity in 1988, this need is unfortunately even more evident in 2026. This explains that the decision of the Fraternity elicits an understanding that extends far beyond its own borders.

A positive fact accompanies this situation: the announcement of last February 2 has not left anyone indifferent in the Church. Almost all feel concerned and perceive the duty to express their approval or disapproval. 

This is providential, because there comes a time when words, positions, and declarations are no longer sufficient. They must be accompanied by significant acts that Providence can use to shake consciences and the Church herself. I firmly believe that Providence is acting in the current debate.

Supernatural prudence

As for us, we must be able to take a certain distance from this debate, while being fully involved in it. 

The decision to proceed with episcopal consecrations must be guided above all by supernatural prudence. This prudence does not only affect those who take the decision, but also those who receive and follow it. 

In other words, the matter is so important that each member of the Fraternity must be able to, at their level, understand and assume this decision personally before God.

The charity

But the gravity of this decision is such that it cannot be guided solely by supernatural prudence. For this decision to be understood and explained properly, as well as from the highest causes, sub specie æternitatis — in the light of eternity, it is essential to ask the Holy Spirit to grant us his wisdom. Now, we must not forget that the true wisdom, the one that must guide us in this exceptional choice, is the daughter of charity. Only the virtue of charity can give us a certain connaturality with Our Lord and, consequently, make us capable to perceive the reality a little in the way of God. Only in this condition can we have a just appreciation of it.

We have already said and repeated that the reason that underlies the decision to proceed with episcopal consecrations is the salvation of the souls. It must not be viewed as a simple rhetorical formula or a mere justification of canonical order. This reason of charity toward the souls and toward the Church is what, ultimately, must truly prepare our souls and the souls of the faithful for the ceremony on July 1.

Sometimes, when one speaks of charity, some have the impression that one yields to a form of weakness or, at least, that certain softness is mixed with the authentic profession of the Catholic faith. Such sensitivity is incompatible with the spirit of Archbishop Lefebvre, with that of the Fraternity, and even more so with the spirit of the Redemption: the force of Our Lord in his Passion and on the cross is not something else than the measure of his charity.

It is with that same charity with which, now more than ever, we must love the souls and the Church, even if its official representatives were to declare us once again excommunicated and schismatic: “These things have been said to you so that you do not scandalize yourselves. You will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time will come when whoever kills you will believe he is offering worship to God. And they will do this because they have not known either the Father nor me. These things have been said to you so that, when the time comes, you remember that I had already told you.” (Jn 16,1-4)

The ultimate proof that we are in the truth will be our ability to maintain this spirit of charity, whatever happens, and toward all without distinction.

What does this charity concretely consist of?

It consists first of all in never falling into bitterness: although we certainly have the duty to do everything possible to justify and explain the deep reasons of the consecrations, this must be done with firmness, but never with bitterness or revealing a trace of bitter zeal. Obviously, one can fallen into bitterness both by excess of zeal or because one would have preferred such a date, such a candidate, or that the things happened in another way. Little matter the material cause of the bitterness; the remedy is always the same: caritas patiens est — charity is patient.

With respect to our interlocutors, whether they are whoever they are, whether they understand us or not, we must always give witness to kindness. When there is no understanding gegenüber uns, when there is even not a disposition to listen our speech and capture its reasons, it is very easy, humanly speaking, to fall into resentment. Caritas benigna est — charity is benign.

We must remember always that, if Providence has made the mercy of giving us a little light, of allowing us to conserve the Tradition of the Church and to take the means to defend it, this corresponds to an exceptional grace that we have not deserved. This consciousness must condition entirely our attitude. If the consecrations represent a grace for the entire Fraternity — a grace of which we must thank from now an the Providence, this deeply supernatural joy must not be confused with a misplaced triumphalism, as if it were a human victory that we attributed to ourselves, which inevitably diminishes its intrinsic value. Caritas non agit perperam, non inflatur — charity does not act rashly, not inflate with pride.

Following Archbishop Lefebvre, in everything we do we do not seek our own interest nor the survival of a personal work, but the good of the souls and of the Church. The Fraternity is not another thing of a means to remain faithful to the Church. If today we take exceptional means to conserve the faith, the holy sacrifice of the Mass and the priesthood, we want that a day the entire Church and every soul without distinction can freely benefit from it. All this belongs to the Church, and we are not more than its guardians. We do not request anything for ourselves: our only reward will be to see someday the entire Church reclaim its Tradition. Caritas non quærit quæ sua sunt — charity does not seek its own interest.

If we must deploy all our efforts to defend adequately the consecrations — and the Fraternity has already for this purpose an entire “arsenal”, if a holy anger is today more necessary than ever against the terrible deviations that shake the Church, we must nevertheless not manifest neither contempt nor irritation in our explanations with respect to our interlocutors, and especially not with respect to the hierarchy of the Church. We must know to remain firm and sweet at the same time. But that only is possible with the aid of Our Lord. Caritas non irritatur — charity does not irritates.

If we were to be declared excommunicated and schismatic, that does not mean that we seek such a sanction nor that we rejoice in it, because it would be objectively unjust. One thing is to rejoice of having a new humiliation to offer to God; another would be to rejoice, in spirit of defiance, of a mal and an injustice objective that causes scandal for the entire Church. Caritas non gaudet super iniquitatem — charity does not rejoice of the injustice.

If, by contrast, there exists in the Church a whole part that positively welcomes and supports the decision of the Fraternity, if the consecrations become a providential occasion of a renewed value and enthusiasm within and outside of the Fraternity, we cannot but rejoice of it, as God himself can rejoice. Caritas congaudet veritati —charity rejoices with the truth.

No one better than St. Paul knew to summarize in four words the program of the vier months that separates us from the consecrations and the force that must characterize our charity: omnia suffert, omnia credit, omnia sperat, omnia sustinet —everything bears, everything believes, everything hopes, everything suffers.

That gilt for the present moment and for always: caritas numquam excidit — charity never disappears.

The example of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Now more than ever, the Immaculate Heart of Mary must be the refuge of the Fraternity and the model of each one of us. No one better than her had the sense of the souls and the sense of the Church. It was by love to the souls and by love to the Church that she accepted to offer her own Son on the Calvary. Her will did not make only one with the of the Eternal and High Priest, in the same moment in which He offered himself to the Father as a victim of expiation. That charity and those immense pains are those that made Our Lady the co-redemptrix of the human race and gave her a unique glory in the time and in the eternity.

And yet, despite all what that Immaculate Heart, pierced by a sword of pain, could suffer, never the slightest bitterness nor the slightest resentment darkened, even for a single instant, the splendor of her charity, even with respect to those who had given death to her divine Son. The same way as she did not hesitate an instant to consumm the sacrifice until the end, so neither her charity toward the sinners never failed. Mystery fathomless of strength, sweetness, and love.

With these feelings and with this charity we must prepare the ceremony of July 1 and strive to prepare also for it the all faithful who have been entrusted an to uns.

¡God bless you!

Menzingen, March 7, feast of Saint Thomas Aquinas

Abbot Davide Pagliarani, Superior General

Two priests murdered by communism will be beatified in the Czech Republic: "They turned the prison into an altar"

The Church will beatify on June 6 the Czech priests Jan Bula and Václav Drbola, murdered by the communist regime in the former Czechoslovakia after falling victim to police frame-ups, torture, and false confessions obtained under duress.

The figure of both martyrs was recalled this Tuesday at a conference organized by the Embassy of the Czech Republic to the Holy See, where Cardinal Michael Czerny highlighted that the two priests knew how to “transform the dark hatred and the coldness of the scaffold into the place of their definitive encounter with the Lord”.

Condemned for crimes they did not commit

According to Vatican News, Jan Bula and Václav Drbola were detained between 1951 and 1952 during the communist persecution of the Catholic Church carried out by the regime established in Czechoslovakia after the Second World War.

Both priests were accused of participating in the so-called “Babice case”, an attack on communist leaders used by the secret police as a pretext to unleash harsh repression against the clergy and Catholic faithful.

The accusation was built on false testimonies, manipulations, and forced confessions obtained after violent interrogations and torture.

Jan Bula was arrested on April 30, 1951, and sentenced to death despite already being imprisoned when the attack of which he was accused took place. He was hanged on May 20, 1952, in the Jihlava prison.

Václav Drbola suffered a similar fate. Arrested also through deception and accused of the same acts, he was executed on August 3, 1951.

“It was not fanaticism, but love”

During his intervention, Cardinal Czerny insisted that the martyrdom of both priests was not the result of ideological fanaticism, but of a total surrender to Christ and the Church.

“It was not a death sought out of fanaticism, but a life offered out of love”, affirmed the Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.

The cardinal especially recalled the serenity with which both faced prison and death, even after suffering humiliations, isolation, and psychological violence.

According to him, the strength of the two priests did not come from an extraordinary human resistance, but from a life deeply united to prayer, the Eucharist, and trust in God.

Martyrs of communism forgotten for decades

For decades, the memory of many priests persecuted by communism in Eastern Europe was silenced or relegated to the private sphere due to the pressure of the atheist regimes imposed after the war.

The beatification of Jan Bula and Václav Drbola now brings the focus back to that systematic persecution of the Catholic Church, especially intense in countries like Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, or Romania.

The cardinal affirmed that the testimony of both priests shows that “no violence can stifle the life of God” in those who remain faithful to Christ.

“They turned the courtroom into a pulpit”

One of the most striking moments of the conference came when the Vatican prefect described how both priests transformed even the judicial process and the prison into a testimony of faith.

“They turned the courtroom into a pulpit and the prison into an altar”, he said.

The cardinal added that the communist regime intended to destroy the faith of the Czech people by eliminating their priests, but ended up turning them into seed for new Christians.

The beatification next June will officially recognize the martyrdom of two priests who, in the midst of persecution, refused to deny their faith and maintained until the end an absolute fidelity to Christ and the Church.

Pope insists on dialogue as the only path in the face of global escalation

During the official reception for the new ambassadors accredited to the Holy See from Bangladesh, Chad, Mauritius, Namibia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, and Yemen, Leo XIV issued an international call for peace and against the geopolitical logic based on weapons and the domination of some countries over others.

In a speech delivered at the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Pontiff called for “a diplomacy that promotes dialogue and seeks consensus,” in the face of an international scenario increasingly marked by geopolitical tensions, armed conflicts, and strategic rivalries.

Leo XIV criticizes a peace based on weapons

The Pope specifically denounced the mindset that seeks to build peace through rearmament or the imposition of power.

“In a time when peace is sought through weapons as a condition for asserting one’s own dominance,” Leo XIV stated, “it is urgent to return to a diplomacy that promotes dialogue and seeks consensus.”

The Pontiff insisted that international relations need to recover a clear and sincere language, free from hostility and manipulation, in order to rebuild trust among nations.

A call for the moral conversion of international politics

Beyond diplomatic formulas, Leo XIV also offered a moral reflection on the current functioning of the international order.

The Pope warned that no society can be considered truly just if it measures its success solely in terms of economic power or political influence while ignoring the weakest.

“No nation can call itself just and humane if it neglects those who live on the margins,” he noted.

In that context, he defended an international policy oriented toward the common good and called for abandoning national egoisms that ultimately leave the poor and vulnerable invisible.

The Pope calls for strengthening international organizations

Leo XIV also defended the importance of multilateral institutions at a time of growing global fragmentation.

According to his explanation, international organizations remain indispensable instruments for resolving conflicts and fostering cooperation between countries, although he acknowledged the need to make them “more representative and effective.”

The Pontiff called for real spaces of encounter and mediation capable of curbing the growing international polarization.

Yemen and Africa, present at the audience

The audience included the presence of diplomatic representatives from countries particularly affected by conflicts, poverty, or humanitarian crises, including Yemen, Chad, Rwanda, or Sierra Leone.

In all cases, Leo XIV assured his prayers for the respective peoples and asked that diplomatic efforts contribute to building “a more just, fraternal, and peaceful world.”

Taoiseach asks Pope Leo to pressure Irish orders on abuse reparations as he invites pontiff to Ireland

The Taoiseach has asked the Pope about reparations for past clerical abuse in Ireland after the chronic failure of religious orders to pay compensation.

“I asked that every effort would be made to get the religious orders to engage proactively on the matter of redress,” Micheál Martin said after meeting with the pontiff for half an hour this morning.

“I did point out that the government established a commission of inquiry into day schools and boarding schools, and that some orders, one or two orders, have come forward, but a lot of orders haven’t, and that assets have been sold.”

Mr Martin added: “We want those assets allocated in revenues to redress, and that the Government will continue its engagement with religious orders. I think the sense is that people do need to take ownership of this, in terms of religious orders and in terms of bishops back in Ireland.”

Asked what Pope Leo had said in reply, Mr Martin said: “I don’t want to be putting words into the Pope’s mouth, but very clearly he’s of a disposition that the church has to take ownership of this.

“We discussed the issue of trauma itself, that it’s not something that one sort of act or one engagement can meet. He’s very aware of that, that this is an enduring sort of programme of work that doesn’t begin with a commission of inquiry or acknowledgement of guilt - but which has to be worked on constantly and on a continuing basis.

“I think he understands this area and the nature of it, and I explained myself that I was involved in establishing the first Commission of Inquiry into the Industrial Schools when I was a minister for education - and how many years later one would meet people who were victims and survivors, and the trauma stays with people.

“So he was very aware and conscious of that - and I think his response was in the affirmative.”

The Taoiseach also said he had invited the Pope to visit Ireland.

“He’s a very busy schedule. I did indicate him that he’s welcome to Ireland, and I said that to him. We really would appreciate a visit. I said the same to Cardinal Pietro Parolin (Vatican Secretary of State), and so please God that will happen at some stage,” Mr Martin said.

Domestically, the Taoiseach said he was urging people earlier to “get out and vote for Cillian Keane in Galway West and John Stephens in Dublin Central.”

He joked: “All politics is local,” but on a serious note added: “It’s interesting when you’re talking about war and conflict around the world, at least we’re having by-elections.

“We should treasure what we have, and people should use the vote that they have, and go out and vote.

“We (in Fianna Fáil) obviously have a preference in terms of who I think they should vote for, but people should go and vote and use the franchise, because when you discuss areas of the world, as I did today, you can just see the extraordinary deprivation and absence of democracy, which is something we take for granted.”

On an official visit too Italy, the Taoiseach will also later meet Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, following his encounter yesterday with French President Emmanuel Macron.

After his private audience with Leo XIV, the Taoiseach also had a bilateral meeting with Holy See Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin.

Following his visit to The Vatican, the Taoiseach will visit the Pontifical Irish College in Rome to meet with members of the college community, ahead of his meeting with Giorgia Meloni.

It has been flagged that he will view its archives, and announce Government funding to support the cataloguing, digitisation and preservation of the records as part of the College’s conservation, project.

The Taoiseach earlier said he looked forward to meeting the Pope, “who has made peace a defining theme of his papacy”.

“I expect that we will reflect on how leaders can act together to end conflict in the world, including in the Middle East, Ukraine and Sudan, and how we can reassert the primacy of human dignity, human rights and a rules-based international order in an increasingly dangerous and divided world,” he said.

“In the first year of his Pontificate, Pope Leo has been a steadfast advocate for human dignity, for the poor and marginalised, for a humanitarian approach, for social justice and the environment, and for peace.

“We share many common values - a belief in the importance of a rules-based international order, and dialogue and diplomacy as the only route to lasting peace.

“I look forward to exchanging views with him on how we can work together to promote effective multilateralism as the best way to address our many challenges and bring an end to conflict.”

Mr Martin added: “We know from our own experience on this island (meaning Ireland) the challenge of finding lasting peace and how this crucial work continues.

“The role of the church and clergy from all denominations was critical to bringing about peace on this island and I will discuss with the Pope the ongoing process of reconciliation, including the difficult but essential work on addressing the legacy of the Troubles.”

With Giorgia Meloni he said he would “share our plans for Ireland’s forthcoming Presidency of the EU and the importance of the role of the EU as for force for peace, democracy, the rule of law and human rights.”

Pakistani bishops invite Pope Leo XIV to visit, citing minority concerns​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‌​​‍​‍‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​​‌​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‌​​‍​‍‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍‌‌

Pakistanʼs Catholic bishops have ended their “ad limina” visit to the Vatican with a formal invitation to Pope Leo XIV to visit the country, a move they and Christian activists hope will boost interfaith harmony and highlight minority concerns.​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‌​​‍​‍‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌​‌‌​‌‍‌‍​‌​‌‍​​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌​​​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​​‌‌‍‌​​‍​​​‌​‍​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌​‌​‌‍​​‍‌​‍​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​​‌​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‌​​‍​‍‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌​‌‌​‌‍‌‍​‌​‌‍​​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌​​​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​​‌‌‍‌​​‍​​​‌​‍​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌​‌​‌‍​​‍‌​‍​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍‌‌

Bishop Samson Shukardin of Hyderabad, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Pakistan, extended the invitation during a papal audience on May 15, according to ​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‌​​‍​‍‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​​​​‌‌‍‌‌​​​‌‌‍‌‍​‌​​‍​‌‍‌‍​​‌​‌‌​‍‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍​‌‍​‌​‌‌‍​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‍​‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​​‌​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‌​​‍​‍‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​​​​‌‌‍‌‌​​​‌‌‍‌‍​‌​​‍​‌‍‌‍​​‌​‌‌​‍‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍​‌‍​‌​‌‌‍​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‌‌‌‍​‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍‌‌UCA News​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‌​​‍​‍‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​​​​‌‌‍‌‌​​​‌‌‍‌‍​‌​​‍​‌‍‌‍​​‌​‌‌​‍‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍‌‍​‌‍‌​​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​​‌​​​‌​‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‌‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​​‌​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‌​​‍​‍‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​​​​‌‌‍‌‌​​​‌‌‍‌‍​‌​​‍​‌‍‌‍​​‌​‌‌​‍‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍‌‍​‌‍‌​​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​​‌​​​‌​‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‌‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍‌‌.​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‌​​‍​‍‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​​​​‌‌‍‌‌​​​‌‌‍‌‍​‌​​‍​‌‍‌‍​​‌​‌‌​‍‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​​‌‍​‍​​​​‌‌‍​​‌‌‌‍​​​​​​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​​‌​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‌​​‍​‍‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​​​​‌‌‍‌‌​​​‌‌‍‌‍​‌​​‍​‌‍‌‍​​‌​‌‌​‍‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​​‌‍​‍​​​​‌‌‍​​‌‌‌‍​​​​​​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍‌‌

Pope Leo XIV responded positively to the invitation and expressed a desire to visit Pakistan in the future, the outlet reported.​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‌​​‍​‍‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌​​‌​​‍​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍​‍​​‍‌‍​‍‌‍‌​‌‍​​‍​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​​‍​‌​‌​‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌​‌‍​‍‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​​‌​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‌​​‍​‍‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌​​‌​​‍​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍​‍​​‍‌‍​‍‌‍‌​‌‍​​‍​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​​‍​‌​‌​‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌​‌‍​‍‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍‌‌

Shukardin said the bishops returned from the “ad limina” visit with renewed hope for the church in Pakistan.​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‌​​‍​‍‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​​‍​‌​​‌‍​​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‍​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍‌‍‌​‌‍​​‍​​‌​‌‌‌‍​‌‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌​​​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​​‌​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‌​​‍​‍‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​​‍​‌​​‌‍​​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‍​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍‌‍‌​‌‍​​‍​​‌​‌‌‌‍​‌‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌​​​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍‌‌

“The challenges we have in Pakistan are first how to evangelize the Church and also reach other people. A big challenge is that our people are still illiterate but strong in faith; they are poor but very hardworking. Many of our people are not receiving equal rights,” he said in ​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‌​​‍​‍‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‍​​​‌‍​​​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​​‌‌‌‍​‍​​​‌‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​​‌​‌‍​‍​‌‍‌‍​‌‌‍​‌​‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​​‌​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‌​​‍​‍‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‍​​​‌‍​​​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​​‌‌‌‍​‍​​​‌‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​​‌​‌‍​‍​‌‍‌‍​‌‌‍​‌​‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍‌‌a video shared on May 16 on Catholic TV​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‌​​‍​‍‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‍​​​‌‍​​​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​​‌‌‌‍​‍​​​‌‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‌​​​​‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍​‍​​​‍‌​​‌‍‌‍​‌‍​‌​‌‍​‍​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​​‌​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‌​​‍​‍‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‍​​​‌‍​​​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​​‌‌‌‍​‍​​​‌‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‌​​​​‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍​‍​​​‍‌​​‌‍‌‍​‌‍​‌​‌‍​‍​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍‌‌.​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‌​​‍​‍‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‍​​​‌‍​​​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​​‌‌‌‍​‍​​​‌‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍​‍​‌​‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​​‌​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‌​​‍​‍‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‍​​​‌‍​​​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​​‌‌‌‍​‍​​​‌‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍​‍​‌​‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍‌‌

“We have a big problem regarding blasphemy cases and forced conversions. Sometimes our Church is rejected and persecuted because we are not doing what others expect. Our Church is going through difficulties, but we are hopeful that one day we will receive equal rights in Pakistan.”​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‌​​‍​‍‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​​​​​‌​‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‍‌​​​​‌​​‌‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍‌‍​‌‍‌​​‌‍​‌‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‍​​​‍​‌‌‍‌​​‍​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​​‌​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‌​​‍​‍‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​​​​​‌​‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‍‌​​​​‌​​‌‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍‌‍​‌‍‌​​‌‍​‌‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‍​​​‍​‌‌‍‌​​‍​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍‌‌

According to the ​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‌​​‍​‍‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‌‍​‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‍​​​‌‌‍​‍​‌‌‍​‌​‌‍​‌‍​​​‌‍‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍​‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​​​‌‍​‌​‌‍‌‌​‍​‌‍​‍​‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​​‌​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‌​​‍​‍‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‌‍​‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‍​​​‌‌‍​‍​‌‌‍​‌​‌‍​‌‍​​​‌‍‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍​‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​​​‌‍​‌​‌‍‌‌​‍​‌‍​‍​‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍‌‌Human Rights Commission of Pakistan​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‌​​‍​‍‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‌‍​‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‍​​​‌‌‍​‍​‌‌‍​‌​‌‍​‌‍​​​‌‍‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​​‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌​​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌​​‌‌‍‌‍‌‍​​‍​​​‌​‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​​‌​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‌​​‍​‍‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‌‍​‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‍​​​‌‌‍​‍​‌‌‍​‌​‌‍​‌‍​​​‌‍‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​​‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌​​​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌​​‌‌‍‌‍‌‍​​‍​​​‌​‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍‌‌, religious minorities in the country, including Christians and Ahmadis, continued to face persecution and discrimination in 2025.​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‌​​‍​‍‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‌‍​‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‍​​​‌‌‍​‍​‌‌‍​‌​‌‍​‌‍​​​‌‍‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍‌‍​‍‌‍​​‌‍‌‍​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‍‌‍​‌‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​​‌​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‌​​‍​‍‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‌‍​‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‍​​​‌‌‍​‍​‌‌‍​‌​‌‍​‌‍​​​‌‍‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍‌‍​‍‌‍​​‌‍‌‍​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‍‌‍​‌‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍‌‌

The commissionʼs annual report highlighted persistent cases of forced conversion and underage marriages involving Hindu and Christian girls in Punjab and Sindh provinces, exposing failures in enforcing child marriage laws.​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‌​​‍​‍‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‍​‍‌‌‍‌‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌​‍​​‍‌​​​​‌‍​​​​​‍​​‌‌‍‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​​‌​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‌​​‍​‍‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‍​‍‌‌‍‌‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌​‍​​‍‌​​​​‌‍​​​​​‍​​‌‌‍‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍‌‌

Mary James Gill, a Christian politician, former lawmaker, and executive director of the Center for Law and Justice, said Christians continue to face social and economic marginalization along with challenges related to religious freedom and interfaith relations.​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‌​​‍​‍‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍‌‍‌‌​​‍​​‌​​‍‌‍​‍‌‍‌​‌‍​​​​‌​​‍​​‌‍​​‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​​‌‌‍​​‌​‌‍​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‌‌‍​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​​‌​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‌​​‍​‍‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍‌‍‌‌​​‍​​‌​​‍‌‍​‍‌‍‌​‌‍​​​​‌​​‍​​‌‍​​‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​​‌‌‍​​‌​‌‍​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‌‌‍​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍‌‌

“Eighty percent of Christians in Pakistan live below the poverty line. The reasons are linked more to caste-based structures than religion itself. A papal visit can bring attention to these issues,” she told EWTN News on May 19.​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‌​​‍​‍‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​​‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​​​‌‌‍‌‌​‍​​​‍​‌​​​​‌‌‍​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​​‌‌‍‌​​‍​‌‍​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌‌​‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​​‍‌​‌‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​​‌​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‌​​‍​‍‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​​‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​​​‌‌‍‌‌​‍​​​‍​‌​​​​‌‌‍​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​​‌‌‍‌​​‍​‌‍​‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌‌​‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​​‍‌​‌‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍‌‌

Gill said the Vatican holds moral and diplomatic influence that could help amplify the concerns of marginalized communities.​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‌​​‍​‍‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍‌‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‍​​​‍​​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​​​‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌‍​​​​​‍‌‌‍​‌​‌‍​‍‌‌‍​‌​‍‌​‌‌‍​‍​​​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​​‌​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‌​​‍​‍‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍‌‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‍​​​‍​​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​​​‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌‍​​​​​‍‌‌‍​‌​‌‍​‍‌‌‍​‌​‍‌​‌‌‍​‍​​​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍‌‌

“Pakistan as a state gives weight and respect to Vatican recommendations and to figures such as the archbishop of Canterbury. A papal visit could increase visibility for Christian concerns and resonate with expectations from the community. It would also be a positive gesture because Christian political leadership in Pakistan often remains divided,” she said.​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‌​​‍​‍‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‌‍​​‍​‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌​‌‍​​​​‌‍​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍‌‍​‌​​‌​‍‌​‌​‍‌‌‍​‌​‌‌‌‍​‌​‍‌​‌‌​‌​‌‍‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​​‌​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌​​​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‍​‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​‌‍​‌​​‍​‍‌​​​​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​​​​‌​‍‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‍​​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‌‍​​‍​‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌​‌‍​​​​‌‍​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍‌‍​‌​​‌​‍‌​‌​‍‌‌‍​‌​‌‌‌‍​‌​‍‌​‌‌​‌​‌‍‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍‌‌

‘Listening centers’ planned for Pope Leo Spain visit

Confessionals will not be set up during a youth prayer vigil and other events of Pope Leo’s trip to Spain next month, while “listening centers” will be available for young people who wish to speak with lay pastoral workers dispatched as “listening agents.”

But a spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Madrid, which is organizing the visit, told The Pillar that the listening centers are not meant to replace confession, which is available in the city’s parishes and churches.

Meanwhile, sources close to the trip’s planning told The Pillar that some organizers had proposed installing confessionals, but the idea failed to gain traction among archdiocesan planners.

In a May 19 press conference, Madrid’s archdiocesan communications director Sara de la Torre said that the listening centers were thought of especially for “young people, who will be received by a group of listening agents prepared especially for this task.”

De la Torre told The Pillar May 19 that the listening centers do not diminish the need for the sacrament of confession, but are meant to serve as a complement.

“Thankfully in Madrid we have 476 parishes in which people can receive the sacrament of reconciliation and that will be available for all people who want to make a confession. There’s a church in Madrid in almost every other square.”

“The listening spaces don’t substitute for confessionals; they go hand in hand. Nothing is comparable to the sacrament of confession. It’s a different thing, the listening spaces are established for anyone who wants to be listened to, and wants to have a conversation,” she explained.

“It’s a different thing,” De la Torre emphasized.

Dedicated spaces for confession have become a regular feature of many large, public papal events, especially World Youth Days.

But De la Torre said the experience of a World Youth Day is different from that of a papal trip.

“It’s true that at the World Youth Day in Lisbon a ‘city of joy’ was organized in which hundreds of confessionals were established, but [World Youth Day] is a different thing, it’s a four-day event with some previous days of preparation, in which pilgrims had already arrived [before papal events]. This is a concrete trip, with a specific activity for young people, which is a prayer vigil.”

“Parishes will do prior spiritual preparation in which a lot of confessions will be offered,” De la Torre added.

While the scale of a three-day papal trip with a single activity for young people is different than a World Youth Day, sources close to the organizing team said the absence of confessionals has been a point of contention among some organizers.

One organizer, who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the record, called the lack of a specific space set up for confessions during the vigil or other events a “missed opportunity.”

Several sources close to the trip’s organization told The Pillar that there had been a proposal to make the June 6 youth prayer vigil at Madrid’s Plaza de Lima a “day of reconciliation,” at which hundreds of priests would be available to hear confessions simultaneously.

The idea was later discarded, with sources saying that some members of the organizing committee said confessionals were not necessary for events with young people, and others argued that confession would be more appropriately offered at local parishes ahead of the papal event. 

Some organizers argued, sources said, that it would be too much to ask priests to spend the evening hearing confessions when they would also take part the next day in a large Mass with Pope Leo on the feast of Corpus Christi.

The listening centers are an initiative launched in collaboration with the San Camilo Center for the Humanization of Healthcare.

The idea behind the listening centers is “to begin a process of accompaniment” for young people “which can help them with whatever needs they may have at that moment,” De la Torre said in the press conference.

The listening centers echo a similar initiative started in Saint Peter’s Basilica in September 2025, in which a listening room was built to offer a space where pilgrims and tourists could “come to be heard,” Msgr. Orazio Pepe, secretary of the Fabric of Saint Peter, said in an interview.

“There’s a religious brother, a religious sister, and people generally come to express what they carry inside. And it’s open to everyone: pilgrims, people of other religions, even those who no longer believe or are struggling in their life of faith,” Pepe added.

“This is not a confessional, but rather a different kind of service. It’s open to non-Catholics or those who no longer practice their faith. The project is part of the Catholic Church’s Holy Year and aims to be a sign of openness and closeness,” Pepe said.

For her part, De la Torre said in the press conference Tuesday that the archdiocese will hold an event at the Almudena Cathedral of Madrid on June 5, the day before the pope arrives, in which the sacrament of confession will be offered to all participants.

That event will be much smaller, as the Almudena Cathedral can hold some 2,000 people, while hundreds of thousands are expected to attend the prayer vigil and the Corpus Christi Mass with Pope Leo XIV.

Alfa y Omega, the Archdiocese of Madrid’s magazine, also reported on May 18 some details of the procession of Corpus Christi in Madrid with Pope Leo.

Citing logistical constraints, organizers said the procession will be relatively short, running from the altar at the foot of Madrid’s city hall to the Church of St. Joseph, before returning to the city hall — about 330 yards each way.

After the procession, Pope Leo will impart a solemn benediction with the Eucharist to participants.

Abducted Nigerian priest released after three months

A diocese in Nigeria’s Kaduna State announced the liberation of a priest abducted in February.

The Diocese of Kafanchan said Fr Nathaniel Asuwaye, parish priest of Holy Trinity Parish in Karku, was released on 12 May, three months after gunmen kidnapped him in a raid on 7 February in which three people died.

The diocesan chancellor Fr Jacob Shanet confirmed that Fr Asuwaye was in a stable condition and receiving medical care. He attributed the priest’s safe return to the Christian community’s prayers and May devotions.

On behalf of Bishop Julius Yakub Kundi of Kafanchan, he expressed gratitude to the faithful for their spiritual support during the ordeal.

According to statistics published by the Nigerian Catholic Bishops’ Conference, between 2015 and 2025 at least 212 priests were kidnapped across 41 dioceses. There are now believed to be two priests still held by kidnappers.

According to the International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law, a Catholic-inspired NGO that tracks religious persecution in Nigeria, violence has claimed 185,000 Christian lives since 2009, while 60,000 moderate Muslims have also been killed. It said over 7,000 Christians were killed in seven months of 2025.

A US-based lobby group accused Nigeria’s National Security Advisor Nuhu Ribadu of disguising the scale of killings and insecurity in Nigeria during meetings with officials in Washington.

The group accused the Nigerian government of doing more to defend its image abroad than to address insecurity and preventing further bloodshed across the country.

The lobbying firm Von Batten-Montague-York claimed Ribadu gave US officials the impression that Christians in Nigeria were safe despite continuing attacks across several communities.  

In a social media post, it said more than 8,500 Catholics have been killed, 40 Catholic priests kidnapped or killed and 90 Catholic churches destroyed since President Bola Tinubu took office in 2023. 

It also alleged that militant herdsmen had killed 13 Christians even while Ribadu was in talks with Vice President J.D. Vance.

Nigerian officials insisted that the talks were part of efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation with the US, particularly military support in responding to insecurity in parts of the country.

“Well, part of the NSA’s engagements is to strengthen the cooperation between the US and Nigeria, over the insecurity issue. Yes, there are killings, but that is not to suggest that the government is closing its eyes to it,” said a senior government official, who asked not to be named.

“The NSA’s visit is to deepen the cooperation with the American government to stop it, and we can all see what was achieved a few days back with the elimination of a high-ranking ISIS member in Borno State with the cooperation of the US government.”

Dr Karl Von Batten of Von Batten-Montague-York also said he had attended meetings involving allies of former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar and US officials, during which insecurity and election integrity were topics of discussion, insisting that violence in Nigeria affects both Christians and Muslims.

Von Batten maintained that Nigeria needed leadership capable of restoring peace, rebuilding trust and uniting citizens across regional and religious divides.

Key court date set in case of former Donegal priest

A provisional date has been set at Derry Magistrate's Court for a Preliminary Enquiry in the case of a priest charged with sex offences.

Edward Gallagher (58) of Orchard Park in Lifford, County Donegal had been charged with one count of attempted sexual communication with a child on dates between April 2 and April 17, 2025.

He has also been charged with seven further offences including inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and causing a child to watch sexual activity on April 17 as well as charges of possessing indecent images of children.

At Thursday's sitting, Gallagher appeared by video link and the court was told that there was one statement outstanding.

However, a prosecutor said that they were in a position to fix a provisional date for the Preliminary Enquiry to take place.

Defence counsel Stephen Mooney said that all of the cases against Gallagher were proceeding together.

A provisional date for the PE was set for July 16 with a review date on June 18.

Gallagher remains in custody.

Eulogy cut short at funeral Mass splits opinions online

A priest’s reaction to the eulogy at a funeral Mass in Ardee, Co. Louth, has been stirring opinions online. 

The eulogy was being read at a funeral Mass on May 13 in the Church of the Nativity of Our Lady, Ardee/Collon Parish, and was interrupted by the priest, who stood up, saying “that’s enough”, that a “boy is feeling sick”, and for the reader to “please go.”

The unnamed Italian priest added, “One day, somebody will have to explain [to] me. When in Ireland, you say ‘short reflection’… what you mean by that.” 

He said that in Italy “‘short’ means short, [but] in Ireland ‘short’ means 50 minutes.” 

It is unclear how long the eulogy was taking, but the video has been circulating online and is dividing opinions on social media, with some people saying the priest’s action was “disrespectful to that family” and “scandalous”.

The Catholic Church does not formally allow eulogies at funeral Masses; however, it is a common practice in many parishes across Ireland. 

A person, commenting on X, said that “As a Traditional Catholic, I’m utterly disgusted,” and that the priest’s action was “cold, un-pastoral, and completely lacking in charity”.

“This is shocking, Irish funerals are sacred spaces for mourning and sharing memories, we don’t put a timer on them,” said another person who added, “cutting someone off during reflection at such a vulnerable moment shows a shocking lack of empathy and pastoral sensitivity.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​”

However, there are people agreeing with the priest. “[The] Priest was correct. A 50-minute eulogy at a funeral Mass is a hostage situation with ‘Thoughts and Prayers’.”

A comment on TikTok reads: “Although many are saying this is rude of the priest… This talk is for the wake or for after the service”.

“Sometimes these eulogies do go on far too much”, another comment reads. “I’ve seen elderly people near fainting at funerals because of these 15 min ‘short’ reflections. No need for it half the time.”

Aseptic and empty: the official spot for the Pope's visit to Madrid dispenses with Christ

The campaign accompanying the preparation of the Pope’s trip to Spain has presented the official spot for the visit of Leo XIV to Spain.

Two and a half minutes of carefully crafted images, impeccable aesthetics, emotive music and a message centered on the gaze, the encounter, human differences and social coexistence. 

All very correct. 

All very sensitive. 

All extraordinarily empty.

The result resembles more a philanthropic campaign for social awareness than an announcement for the visit of the successor of Peter.

How can an official spot for the Pope’s visit become a message so carefully stripped of Christian content?

Much emotion, little faith

The video shows a subway car full of different people who learn to “look at each other” and discover that they share fears, dreams and fatigue. 

The final message invites to “raise the gaze”, “lower the barriers” and “find answers”.

But answers… to what?

The problem is not talking about human fraternity. Christianity has always spoken of it. 

The problem is building a discourse where the supernatural dimension disappears completely and where the man seems to suffice himself through the simple emotional experience of encountering the other.

The result is a message perfectly compatible with any institutional campaign, international NGO, corporate advertisement or social cohesion initiative, even a soft-drink ad could fit.

The man as the man’s answer

Maybe the most revealing phrase of the video comes when the voice-over asks: “And if the person I have in front of me is the answer I need to understand myself?”.

There is condensed all the anthropological and spiritual problem of the announcement.

Because for Christianity, man is not the ultimate answer of man. Christ is.

The neighbor matters precisely because he points to God, because he has been created in the image of God and because the love to the other arises from the love to Christ. 

When that supernatural foundation is eliminated, the fraternity ends up reduced to a horizontal sentimentalism so emotive as incapable of responding to the deep questions of the human soul.

An increasingly secularized ecclesial aesthetic

The video reflects additionally a trend increasingly frequent in contemporary ecclesial communication: the obsession to be inclusive, friendly and universally acceptable even at the cost of emptying the Christian message of its most specifically religious content.

Everything is designed to not bother anyone.

No sin because it could sound harsh. No truth because it could sound exclusive. 

No call to conversion because it could seem demanding. No Christ because it could divide.

Only a generic spirituality of encounter, empathy and shared emotions remains.

Paradoxically, in the attempt to be accessible to all, the message ends up losing precisely what makes the Church unique.

"Looking Up": Cobo's Response to the Outbreak of the Zapatero Case Days Before the Visit of Leo XIV

Cardinal José Cobo insists that the visit of Leo XIV to Spain “does not come to do politics” nor “to take votes away from anyone.” 

And he is surely right in the essential point: the mission of a Pope is not to intervene in electoral campaigns or to align himself with parties. 

The problem is different. 

In today’s Spain it is practically impossible to separate a papal visit from the political climate that envelops everything.

Leo XIV will arrive in our country from June 6 to 12 amid an explosive situation: permanent polarization, institutional wear and tear, constant ideological confrontation, and a government besieged by scandals. 

To pretend that all of this will not inevitably condition the papal trip is asking too much of reality.

The temporal coincidence is especially uncomfortable. Just four days before the Pontiff’s arrival, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero will have to testify before the National Court, investigated for alleged crimes of money laundering, influence peddling, and membership in a criminal organization in the Plus Ultra case.

“Raising one’s gaze”… to look away?

In statements to Europa Press, Cobo was asked whether Zapatero’s indictment could overshadow the Pope’s visit. 

The Archbishop of Madrid replied that “raising one’s gaze” allows us to understand that “political contingency” is not the center of our life.

The phrase sounds good. It even has a certain spiritual appearance. 

The problem is that the “contingency” we are talking about is not a simple parliamentary dispute or a television talk-show spat. 

We are talking about a former president of the government who must appear before the National Court, investigated for extremely serious crimes.

It does not seem especially edifying to suggest that raising one’s gaze consists in ignoring possible cases of corruption of enormous institutional gravity. 

The Church’s social doctrine has never defended the idea that public life should remain outside moral judgment. Quite the contrary.

Political corruption destroys social trust, degrades institutions, and ultimately hits the weakest hardest. It is not a secondary distraction from which citizens should abstract themselves.

The CEE and the language of depoliticization

Cobo’s words quite well reflect the tone that the Spanish Episcopal Conference has been trying to impart to the visit for months: avoid conflicts, lower tensions, normalize relations and present the Pope as a figure above national political and social tensions.

The problem is that the trip’s own agenda makes that complete neutrality impossible. Leo XIV will speak in the Spanish Parliament — something Cobo himself has been involved in, will meet with Pedro Sánchez, and will land in the middle of one of the most tense political atmospheres in recent years.

In addition, the episcopal insistence on concepts such as “encounter,” “dialogue,” or “depolarization” coincides with a strategy of clear institutional détente with the socialist government, even after years of laws deeply contrary to the Christian view on life, family, education, or historical memory.

It is no coincidence that Cobo now emphasizes the “fluid dialogue” with the Executive. The Spanish Episcopal Conference appears determined to avoid any clash with La Moncloa before the Pope’s arrival.

Immigration and the risk of instrumentalization

The migration issue has become one of Europe’s great political debates today. 

And to think that that discourse can be maintained in a kind of purely moral limbo, without political consequences, is increasingly less realistic.

In fact, the archbishop himself recognized the risk of political instrumentalization of the Pope’s messages. 

A risk that is evident in a country where any word spoken from a public platform is immediately turned into partisan ammunition.

A visit that will inevitably have a political reading

No one expects that Leo XIV will come to Spain to support specific party lines. That has never been the role of a Pontiff. 

But it also does not seem reasonable to pretend that a visit of these dimensions can develop in a bubble detached from national reality.

The true challenge will be precisely to avoid that the Pope’s message be absorbed by the political logic that today dominates practically all of Spanish public life.

Because politics does not disappear by repeating that it does not exist. And “raising one’s gaze” should not mean closing one’s eyes.