'Men and women need God's mercy but we also need our own mercy.'
Once again, the Pope has asked the world to show humanity with actions. In this case, he has done so with this video to support the campaign launched by Aid to the Church Need. The Papal Foundation is raising funds to support humanitarian projects in places like the city of Erbil, in Iraqi Kurdistan.
There, the Pope has already sent a donation of $150,000 to support a hospital that provides free medical care to more than 2,800 Christian and Muslim refugees.
In order to launch the campaign, Pope Francis met with officials from the foundation that promoted Pius XII in the late 1940s so that persecuted Christians could continue to received the spiritual and financial support of the Church.
CARD. MAURO PIACENZA
President, Aid to the Church in Need
'The meeting with the Holy Father was very nice. We have meet a Pope who is very interested in what we intend to do and we are glad to see the harmony between what he feels and we try to do.â?
From Rome, those responsible for the foundation want the voices of these people to be heard firsthand, as they continue to be threatened because of their religion.
Bishop Sebastian Francis Shaw from Pakistan is in charge of the diocese where in March a suicide bomber claimed the lives of more than 70 Christians who were celebrating Easter. Thirty of them were children.
MSGR. SEBASTIAN FRANCIS SHAW
Bishop of Lahore (Pakistan)
'It was very difficult to console the people in those circumstances, to be merciful. When I went to the hospital the doctor, who was a Muslim, he thought that only came for Christians. He asked if I had a list of people wanted to see. I said, I have no list. Victims are victims, whether Christian or Muslim. All are human beings and Christ encouraged us to reach out to everyone.â?
FR. IMAD GARGEES
Priest, Iraqi Kurdistan
'The Pope always speaks of mercy but not just with words, he shows it with his actions. He has donated $150,000 to to everyone, not just Christians in Iraq.â?
The Aid to the Church in Need is located in 22 countries and promotes about 6,000 humanitarian projects worldwide. It establishes social projects not only for Christians but to anyone in need of help.
'And do not be afraid of mercy. Mercy is the touch of God.â?
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