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04/25/2024 07:03:55 pm

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Pope Condemns Christian Persecution, Grieves Over Pakistan Church Bombings

Lahore Church bombings

(Photo : Reuters) Members of the Pakistani Christian community chant slogans during a protest rally in Peshawar, to condemn blast attacks on churches in Lahore March 15, 2015.

Pope Francis has called for an end to violence against Christians as he grieves over two terror attacks against churches in Pakistan on Sunday.

The suicide attacks near two churches in the city of Lahore killed 14 people and injured nearly 80 others. The Pontiff said the dead and injured were treated inhumanely just because they were Christians. 

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"It's with pain, much pain that I was told of the terrorist attacks against two Christian churches in Lahore in Pakistan, which have caused numerous deaths and injuries," the Pope said following his weekly Angelus prayer in Rome.

"These are Christian churches and Christians are persecuted, our Christian brothers are spilling their blood simply because they are Christians," he said.

Two suicide bombers interrupted the Sunday worship services at the St. Joseph Catholic Church and Anglican Christ Church and blew up the church's entrances. Witness to the bombings said he saw a man blowing himself up after a security guard prevented him from entering the church.

The Pakistani Taliban had claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying more bombing could take place if Sharia law is not implemented there.

The Pakistani Taliban had earlier formed several breakaway groups over differences in ideological beliefs. But days ahead of the suicide attacks, the group announced  they were joining forces again under the name Tehrik-i-Taliban, or TTP.

Immediately after the attacks, Christians from neighboring areas took to the streets to protest the bombings and lack of security in their area. An angry Chrisitian mob pulled two men who they believed were behind the attacks, tied them up and burned them to death.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Mamnoon Hussain had strongly condemned Sunday's attack and ordered for a full blown investigation. The Prime Minister also wanted local officials to implement stricter measures to ensure people's safety at all times.

In 2013, at least 80 people were killed in Peshawar, after bombers attacked a Christian community there. That incident was believed to be the biggest attack on Christians in Pakistan.

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