Pakistan

The Latest

Pope Francis prays with journalists on the papal flight, August, 2014.

Pope sends condolences to victims of Pakistan hospital attack

Aug 9, 2016

By Ann Schneible

Pope Francis offered his condolences to those affected by the “senseless and brutal” attack against a hospital in Quetta, Pakistan,... Read more

Pakistan murder shows Christians not immune from 'honor killing' custom

Jun 16, 2016

A teenage Christian girl in Pakistan was reportedly killed by her own brother this week in a so-called “honor killing”... Read more

Archbishop Sebastian Shaw of Lahore with the newly ordained at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Lahore, Pakistan, April 8, 2016.

After Easter Sunday terror, Pakistan's Catholics see hope in new priests

Apr 15, 2016

Just weeks after the deadly Easter Sunday attacks on Christians, Catholics in Pakistan had a time to rejoice: five new... Read more

Pope Francis prays with journalists on the papal flight en route to South Korea on Aug. 14, 2014.

Pope condemns 'cowardly' attack on Pakistani Christians

Mar 28, 2016

Pope Francis on Monday mourned the loss of life in Pakistan, where more than 70 people – mostly women and... Read more

A young girl lights a candle at a Marian Grotto in Pakistan.

Christian Easter celebrations targeted in Pakistan suicide bombing

Mar 27, 2016

A crowded park in Lahore, Pakistan where Christian families were celebrating Easter Sunday was the site of an apparent suicide... Read more

Shahbaz Bhatti, who was assassinated March 2, 2011, speaks at a 2010 press conference in Islamabad.

Pakistani diocese opens cause for Shahbaz Bhatti to be declared a martyr

Mar 2, 2016

Marking the fifth anniverary of the assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti on Wednesday, a Pakistani diocese has opened a process of... Read more

A car damaged in Srinagar, India because of the Oct. 26, 2015 earthquake in northern Afghanistan, with tremors felt as widely as Pakistan and northern India

Pope Francis grieves loss of life in Afghanistan-Pakistan quake

Oct 27, 2015

By Elise Harris

After a massive earthquake rocked Pakistan and Afghanistan yesterday killing hundreds, Pope Francis on Tuesday voiced his sorrow and solidarity... Read more

A young girl lights a candle at a Marian grotto in Pakistan.

Pakistani police save Christian couple from 'anti-blasphemy' mob attack

Jul 6, 2015

Police last week saved a Christian couple from a mob in Pakistan that attempted to kill them for allegedly committing... Read more

May Crowning at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Gujranwala, Pakistan May 30, 2015.

For Pakistan Catholics, Mary is protector and bridge for dialogue

Jun 13, 2015

Thousands of faithful gathered to crown Mary at a parish of the Lahore archdiocese last month, bringing prayers for peace,... Read more

Pope Francis greets Ashiq Mesih in St. Peter's Square during the Wednesday general audience on April 15, 2015.

Papal blessings for Asia Bibi’s family, as death sentence still looms

Apr 15, 2015

By Andrea Gagliarducci

Pope Francis has blessed the family of Asia Bibi, a Pakistani woman sentenced to death for blasphemy, as they continue... Read more

A young girl lights a candle at a Marian grotto in Pakistan.

Pakistani Christians mourn bomb victims, protest lack of security

Mar 16, 2015

Christians in Pakistan are grieving the loss of 15 people who were killed in suicide bomb attacks on two churches... Read more

Pope Francis prays with journalists on the papal flight en route to South Korea on Aug. 14, 2014.

Pope grieves Pakistan bombings, says world hides Christian persecution

Mar 15, 2015

By Elise Harris

In his Sunday Angelus address Pope Francis lamented today’s terrorist attacks against two Christian churches – one of them Catholic... Read more

Candlelight prayer vigil in London on Dec. 17, 2014 in memory of the 141 victims, mostly school children, at a school in Peshawar, Pakistan.

School massacre incites horror in Pakistani community

Dec 17, 2014

By Elise Harris

An Australian priest who spent more than 30 years in Pakistan has only one word for the impact of a... Read more

Christian and Muslim leaders meet with Mohammad Sawar, governor of Punjab province, Nov. 18, 2014. Photo courtesy of Fr. James Channan, O.P.

Christians, Muslims unite for justice over couple burned in kiln

Nov 20, 2014

In the two weeks since a Christian couple was killed by a Muslim mob in Pakistan, local leaders from both... Read more

Activists successfully demand that St. Francis High School be returned to the Archdiocese of Lahore from the Pakistani government.

Pakistani archdiocese rejoices over return of a school from government

Nov 11, 2014

Catholics in Lahore, the capital of Pakistan's Punjab province, are rejoicing over their government's recent decision to return a more... Read more

The site where a young Christian couple were allegedly burned alive at a brick factory in Pakistan's Punjab province. Courtesy of Legal Evangelical Association Development.

Christian couple reportedly burned alive, Pakistan urged to respond

Nov 5, 2014

By Carl Bunderson

The reported killing of a Christian couple in Pakistan by a mob on Tuesday has sparked calls for the nation's... Read more

Pope Francis.

Asia Bibi to Pope Francis: Pray for me, your daughter

Oct 28, 2014

A Catholic woman condemned to death in Pakistan for allegedly violating the country's blasphemy law has asked Pope Francis for... Read more

Asia Bibi's death sentence sparks outrage from Pakistan's Christians

Oct 16, 2014

The Lahore High Court's rejection on Thursday of Asia Bibi's appeal against her death sentence, passed by a lower court,... Read more

Pope Francis greets Paul Bhatti and his mother in St. Peter's Square during the Wednesday general audience on Aug. 27, 2014.

Pakistani leader talks persecuted Christians with Pope Francis

Aug 29, 2014

By Elise Harris

In a brief encounter with Pope Francis following his general audience yesterday, former Pakistani minister Paul Bhatti discussed persecuted Christians... Read more

Peace walk in Karachi.

Pakistani Catholics foster dialogue, fellowship with Muslims

Aug 1, 2014

Catholics in Pakistan reached out to the local Islamic community in an effort to promote peace between the religious groups... Read more