ICC Note:  The president of the Pakistani Episcopal Conference and Pakistan’s Archbishop describe Christians in Pakistan as a minority group who stands strong in their faith.  The Archbishop and Pope Francis met to discuss the many challenges Christians face in the country and the support they need to continue to serve others.

3/22/2018 Pakistan (Herald Malaysia) –  Christians in Pakistan are “a small flock”, but “strong in faith”, says Msgr. Joseph Arshad, president of the Pakistani Episcopal Conference in an exclusive interview. We meet him in Rome on the occasion of the five yearly “ad limina” visit of the Pakistani bishops to the Vatican. The prelate speaks of interreligious dialogue, of the work of the Church in society, of Islamic extremism. On this last subject, he wishes to point out that violence “affects everyone, not only Christians, but also mosques and Islamic schools”. The problem, he reiterates, is at the base of society which is “also divided along economic lines”.

Msgr. Arshad, 53, also chairs the National Justice and Peace Commission. Ordained to the priesthood in 1991 by Card. Fernando Filoni, he studied canon law at the Pontifical Urbanianum University in Rome. Subsequently, for 14 years he worked in the diplomatic service of the Holy See. In 2013, Pope Francis appointed him bishop of Faisalabad. In 2016 the pontiff chose him as apostolic administrator for the diocese of Islamabad-Rawalpindi and then on 10 February last Archbishop of the same diocese.

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For interviews with William Stark, ICC’s Regional Manager, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: [email protected].