Why would the Pope be surprised by this? Religions have been intolerant of one another since they were invented 2500 years ago. In fact, the Catholic Church is responsible for tens if not hundreds of thousands of deaths, not to mention torture, during the Inquisition. If there is anyone who shouldn’t be surprised by religious violence it’s the Pope (or any of the leaders of the Roman Catholic Church) who undoubtedly know their church’s history. TGO
Refer to story below. Source: Associated Press
VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI is stunned by the wave of violence and intolerance toward Christians around the world, Italy’s top churchman said Thursday at Epiphany services.
“Together with the Holy Father, Benedict XVI, we are stunned in the face of religious intolerance and so much violence, and we are asking ourselves, in sorrow: why?” said Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, president of Italy’s bishops conference in an Epiphany homily in Genoa. Bagnasco, in his role at the influential Italian bishops body, works closely with the pontiff and other Vatican officials.
Christian Copts in Egypt, where a bomb outside a church on Jan. 1 killed 21 people, mark Christmas on Jan. 7, will flock to Christmas vigil services on Thursday evening. Other Orthodox Christians also celebrate Jesus’ birth on Jan. 7.
Speaking from his studio window overlooking St. Peter’s Square, Benedict told pilgrims and tourists he was offering heartfelt greeting and wishes to “the brothers and sisters of the Eastern churches who tomorrow will celebrate Holy Christmas.”
He prayed that Christians would be “strengthened in faith, hope and charity” and that “comfort be given to communities that are suffering” — a reference to the wave of violence.
Deadly attacks on Christians also bloodied Christmas celebrations Dec. 25 in Nigeria and the Philippines. Catholics in Baghdad have been worshipping in a bloodstained basilica since an assault there last fall claimed 68 lives, including those of two priests.
Asking why “voices the chilling question that is rising from so many places on Earth,” the Italian news agency ANSA quoted Bagnasco as saying in Genoa’s cathedral.
Italian authorities said they were increasing security measures outside churches for Christmas services for the tiny Coptic minority in Rome, Milan and elsewhere in Italy.
“We feel bitterness and sorrow for what we suffered in Egypt,” Coptic Orthodox Bishop Barnaba el Soryany, told Associated Press Television News. He add that while there will be a Mass, there will be no festivities. “How can we celebrate Christmas after all that happened in Egypt?” the bishop said, speaking at the Virgin Mary Coptic church in Rome.
Benedict earlier marked the Roman Catholic church’s last major Christmas period holiday on Thursday by celebrating Epiphany Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. The feast day recalls the Gospel’s account of the journey by the three kings or “wise men,” guided by a star, to pay homage to the baby Jesus, and many faithful exchange gifts.
