Pope prays for and with victims
of religious persecution
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| Asia Bibi's husband and her daughter Eisham arrive in the Vatican prior to a private meeting with Pope Francis. |
A very special private meeting took place on Saturday
morning in the Vatican between Pope Francis and some victims of religious
persecution from different parts of the world.
Pope Francis on Saturday prayed for victims of
religious persecution across the world as he met with the husband and daughter
of Asia Bibi and with Rebecca Bitrus.
Asia Bibi is a Pakistani Christian woman who has been held
in the Multan female prison, in Punjab since 2009, sentenced to death for
alleged blasphemy; Rebecca Bitrus is a young Nigerian woman who was abducted
and held captive by Boko Haram Jihadists for two years.
During the private meeting in the Vatican, Pope Francis
prayed together with those present, putting faith and hope at the centre of
this very special occasion.
Some of those present revealed dthat Asia Bibi’s youngest
daughter Eisham prayed in Urdu, whilst Rebecca prayed in her own Hausa dialect,
giving life to an extraordinary moment of sharing and emotional intensity.
Speaking to the Pope, Eisham reportedly told him she was
bringing her mother’s love to him.
The meeting was organized by Aid to the Church in
Need, a papal foundation that supports suffering Christians around the
world.
After the encounter, the President of ACN Italy, Alessandro
Mondeduro, said the Pope was deeply moved by the occasion and described Asia
Bibi and Rebecca as “women martyrs: marvelous examples for a civilization that
is so afraid of pain.”
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