Press Release

Fr James Channan OP meets Pope Benedict XVI in Rome

Request made to declare Shahbaz Bhatti a Martyr

Fr James Channan OP, Director of Peace Center, Regional Coordinator United Religions Initiative Pakistan and former Prior Vice Provincial of the Dominican Ibn-e-Mariam Vice Province had a special audience with his Holiness Pope Benedict XVI in Rome, on 13th of April, 2011 in Rome. During this meeting he thanked the Pope for his prayers and solidarity with the Christians of Pakistan and sought special prayers and blessings for the promotion of  peace, harmony activities and Christian Muslim dialogue in Pakistan. He said that we as Christians will keep on keep on playing our full role  for the progress and prosperity of our country as we are “salt of the earth and light of the world” in Pakistan. We will in  spite of many difficulties and challenges, Fr James said,  keep on promoting dialogue between Christians and  Muslims as it is an urgent need of our times.

Fr James Channan also handed over a personal letter to  Pope Benedict XVI  on behalf of the Dominican friars in Pakistan to thank His Holiness for his solidarity with the Christians  in the country who are going through a difficult times and appealed to His Holiness to declare  Shabaz Bhatti a “Martyr’. While he was speaking about the assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti, His Holiness Pope Benedict spontaneously said, “He is a Martyr”.

The Dominicans in Pakistan pay rich tribute to the great services of Shahbaz Bhatti for  promoting, peace solidarity, interreligious  and Christian Muslim dialogue. He was a great leader and voice of the voiceless and oppressed classes.

Fr Pascal Paulus OP

Prior Vice Provincial

Ibn-e-Mariam Vice Province Pakistan  

20 April, 2011