Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lahore (Agenzia Fides) – “The spirit of the Resurrection shines brightly despite the shadows of discrimination and marginalization affecting Christians in Pakistan. From the bustling cities of Lahore and Karachi to the most remote towns and rural villages, Christian communities gather in churches and homes to celebrate the central mystery of their faith: the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ,” Father Lazar Aslam, a Capuchin friar from Lahore, capital of the Punjab province, told Fides. “For Christians, Easter, the foundation of our faith, which proclaims Christ's triumph over death and sin, brings hope especially to those who endure trials and suffering,” he emphasized.
In the country's predominantly Muslim context, the Christian festivity is welcomed with different perspectives: Many Muslims, who venerate Jesus as a prophet, show respect and convey their good wishes to Christians, turning the religious holiday into an opportunity for dialogue and fraternal encounter. However, other sectors of Pakistani society view Easter "with indifference or even hostility," Father Aslam says, because they do not understand its deeper meaning.
During Lent, the country's Christians have prepared with fasting, prayer, and works of charity. The Holy Week liturgies, especially the celebrations of Good Friday and Easter Sunday, draw crowds. Churches are adorned with flowers, choirs sing the Alleluia with renewed faith and joy, and the faithful reaffirm their hope in the Risen Lord. "Even more so in this Jubilee Year, the word 'hope' resonates strongly in our communities," the friar affirms.
In the face of the security threats that have occurred in recent years, the government has deployed significant police presence outside churches, particularly in large cities. Checkpoints, the presence of armed personnel, and surveillance mark the Easter celebrations. “These measures offer a certain sense of protection, but they also remind us of the vulnerability we experience as a community,” explains Father Aslam.
Catholic families celebrate Easter by sharing traditional meals, while children participate in school activities, and communities organize processions and prayer vigils. “The Easter of this Jubilee Year represents for us a profound renewal of faith, even in the midst of suffering, because darkness can never overcome the light of Christ. It is a testimony to the perseverance of a people who, despite their daily struggles, remain rooted in the hope of the Resurrection,” continues the friar. In the Sindh region, in the south of the country, the Easter celebration has brought a special message of hope and gratitude. On April 8, Father Prem Virshi was ordained as the first Catholic priest from the Kachhi Kohli ethnic community. The new priest will celebrate the Holy Week and Easter rites for the first time with the faithful of his home community, for the joy of all. It is worth remembering that in 2018, the Catholic Church in Pakistan welcomed the first religious sister from the Kachhi Kohli tribe, who joined the Congregation of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Lord, the fruit of 70 years of missionary presence among this tribal people in Sindh. The Kachhi Kohli, an ethno-linguistic minority composed of some 280,000 people, mostly Hindu. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 16/4/2025)
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