Pubblichiamo di seguito il telegramma che il Cardinale Segretario di Stato Tarcisio Bertone ha inviato, a nome del Santo Padre, al Vescovo di Faisalabad, S.E. Mons. Joseph Coutts, a seguito delle violenze avvenute sabato scorso e che hanno causato vittime fra i cristiani della sua diocesi:

THE MOST REVEREND JOSEPH COUTTS

BISHOP OF FAISALABAD

THE HOLY FATHER WAS DEEPLY GRIEVED TO LEARN OF THE SENSELESS ATTACK ON THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY OF GOJRA CITY WHICH RESULTED IN THE TRAGIC KILLING OF INNOCENT MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN, AND IMMENSE DESTRUCTION. HE ASKS YOU TO CONVEY HIS HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS AND TO EXPRESS HIS SOLIDARITY WITH ALL WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS WANTON ACT. AT THE SAME TIME HIS HOLINESS CHARGES YOU STRONGLY TO ENCOURAGE THE WHOLE DIOCESAN COMMUNITY, AND ALL CHRISTIANS IN PAKISTAN, NOT TO BE DETERRED IN THEIR EFFORTS TO HELP BUILD A SOCIETY WHICH, WITH A PROFOUND SENSE OF TRUST IN RELIGIOUS AND HUMAN VALUES, IS MARKED BY MUTUAL RESPECT AMONG ALL ITS MEMBERS. IN THE NAME OF GOD HE APPEALS TO EVERYONE TO RENOUNCE THE WAY OF VIOLENCE WHICH CAUSES SO MUCH SUFFERING AND TO EMBRACE THE WAY OF PEACE. TO THE FAMILIES AND TO ALL WHO MOURN THEIR DEAD IN FAITH AND IN THE HOPE WHICH DRAWS ITS CERTAINTY FROM THE RESURRECTION, THE HOLY FATHER CORDIALLY IMPARTS HIS APOSTOLIC BLESSING AS A PLEDGE OF CONSOLATION AND STRENGTH IN THE LORD.

CARDINAL TARCISIO BERTONE

SECRETARY OF STATE.

[01184-02.01] [Original text: English]

[B0503-XX.01]