The challenge of unity among the different communities and respect for minorities is also the central theme in the Christmas celebrations in Pakistan. "We need peace in this divided world. But let us begin by loving one another," said by the Archbishop of Karachi, Msgr Mario Travas, speaking yesterday at the Christmas performance by the children of the local St Joseph's Convent School.

"The little ones," he commented, "have given us a beautiful message today: if we need peace, we must start with our family. This is the strangest and most wonderful thing in the Christmas story: God chose to come among us 'in the family'. He came to a very poor and downtrodden family, to remind us that that is where love begins'.

Card. Joseph Coutts, Emeritus Archbishop of Karachi, also thanked the children for their performance: "It is an example of unity, of how people of different ages and conditions can achieve something very beautiful. If we could all do something for Pakistan, ours would become a great country.

In the Sahiwal district, on the other hand, the local Catholic community has been organising a Christmas gathering since 2020 to spread the message of peace and unity to all. The initiative took place on Sunday starting from the local church and, passing through several bazaars and streets, ended in the Christian colony of Eisa Nagri. Hundreds of believers took part and people from various other religious communities welcomed them with rose petals, to show friendship and acceptance towards them. 

Addressing the participants, Dominican Fr. Zahid Augustine said: "This type of programme increases the devotion and faith of the faithful, bringing them closer to one another. We pray for our beloved country, for its prosperity and development, and we pray especially for our brothers and sisters affected by last summer's floods, who are still suffering this winter season and are unable to provide all the basic services for their children."

Speaking to AsiaNews Ashknaz Khokhar, a human rights activist and one of the organisers of the demonstration, said, "The Pakistani Constitution gives all religious minorities the freedom to celebrate their rituals in full liberty, but I have to say reluctantly that the local administration has not been cooperative with us and has always pressurised us to stop the demonstration and has not arranged security measures. We call on the government and law enforcement institutions to take action against these elements who harass and try to disrupt peaceful events such as this Christmas gathering."