Pakistani Christians live out Christmas spirit in the midst of security measures
By Kielce Gussie
In addition to thinking about Christmas dinners and presents, the Christian communities in Pakistan have another item on their minds: security. Ahead of the holiday season, civil authorities in the country’s various provinces have implemented special measures to ensure maximum security near Christian churches.
According the Vatican’s Fides news agency, these safety precautions have been adopted in a number of districts and had been decided with consultation and “in coordination with Christian communities and Church leaders.”
The protocols include assigning security personnel, along with making provisions for traffic control, lighting, and street cleaning.
Protection of people is an absolute priority
A parish priest in Lahore and the communications officer for the Pakistan Bishops’ Conference, Fr. Qaisar Feroz, explained these safeguards are being put in place because “after the attacks that have occurred in Pakistan and the most recent developments linked to the conflict with Afghanistan, there is widespread fear of terrorist attacks in Pakistani society.”
This means the state’s protection plan includes churches, particularly in the Christmas period, as the priest described. Churches will have security checks at their entrances. Fr. Feroz reported that Christian representatives and police authorities held meetings to discuss these measures.
Officers also took time to visit some churches to create relevant plans based on the buildings. The parish priest noted that the “government authorities have said that the protection of the lives, property, and peace of mind of minorities is an absolute priority.”
He continued that the Islamabad police have encouraged all citizens to report immediately ay suspicious activity.
Christmas will go on
In the midst of these safety precautions and new measures, Fr. Feroz recalled how Christians in Pakistan are still dedicated to living out the “spirit of Christmas and to present it to all Pakistanis, of every religion, as an opportunity for fraternity and peaceful coexistence.”
To this end, the parish priest explained that recently in Lahore, two public events have already taken place—one organized by the government and one by the Catholic community. “In both, it was said that Christmas is a feast that carries a message of peace”, Fr. Feroz said.
Reflecting on the procession coordinated by the civil authorities, the priest described it as “an occasion of interreligious unity and harmony, in which people came together to share messages of peace and joy.” The event, he continued, gave Pakistani Christians the ability to affirm the true spirit of Christmas: love, hope, and unity.
In a time riddled with conflict and violence, Fr. Feroz explained that Christians “present themselves as messengers of peace” and at Christmas, Jesus gives the spirit of reconciliation and peace.
In turn, the Christian community offers this spirit “to Muslim believers and members of other religious communities, to those in government, and to the neighboring populations in India and Afghanistan, with whom there are currently tensions, in the hope of restoring peaceful relations.”
On 21 December in Karachi, the local Christian community is holding a public demonstration for peace together with the civil and religious authorities. Around Pakistan in different cities, interreligious meetings will be held organized by various parishes, associations, dioceses, and study centers.
Its goal: to reaffirm the commitment to peace and unity, which is to be reflected primarily in our social interactions.
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