VATICAN CITY, SEPT. 2, 2003 (Zenit.org).- This month John Paul II will pray especially for the victims of terrorism and violence, as well as for the Christian communities of Central Asia.
Every month, the Pope offers his prayers and sacrifices for a specific intention. The current intention is «That the countries that are suffering because of war, terrorism and violence may find the way of reconciliation, concord and peace.»
The Holy Father also keeps a missionary intention in his prayers. On this occasion, it will be: «That the Christian communities of Central Asia, who live among people of other religious traditions, may be committed to spreading the Good News of the Kingdom through the active testimony of their faith.»
The area comprises Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, with a population of 49 million people, 83% of whom are Muslim.
Commenting on the Pope’s missionary intention, Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz of the Mother of God in Moscow, asks, in a message sent to the Fides missionary agency: «As small minorities, what can the Christian communities in Central Asia do to promote the planting and growth of the Kingdom of God?»
«For a society which has inherited from the atheist regime a whole lot of problems connected with indifferentism and difficult social situations, the example of Christian life is most important,» he answers.
«For those who have never heard the Good News, who have no belief or belong to non-Christian religions, Christians living according to the spirit of the Gospel become living pages and witnesses,» he adds.
