The Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) are involved in prayer and in raising awareness on the case of Asia Bibi, reported Fides News Agency on November 7, 2018.
«Missio Aachen», directorate of the PMS in Aachen, asks the faithful for a special prayer for a woman sentenced to death in Pakistan and then acquitted by the crime of blasphemy on October 31, 2018. «Missio» has promoted the initiative of a «sympathetic pillow»: during the celebrations and meetings, a chair will be left empty, with a pillow that shows a slogan for the release of Asia Bibi, to symbolize her presence and also the closeness the German faithful intend to express.
In his recent visit to Aachen, also Archbishop Giovanni Pietro Dal Toso, President of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the world, supported the initiative of solidarity towards the Pakistani woman. «Missio Aachen» invited Christians in Germany to pray intensely and to remember the woman during the liturgy and mass, hoping for a successful final outcome of the whole affair.
«With our action of prayer, we want to symbolically bring Asia Bibi amongst us and pray for her freedom. Through our solidarity in prayer, all those who join can give Asia Bibi, her family, and Christians in Pakistan strength», said Fr. Klaus Krämer, Director of «Missio Aachen». In 2014, Missio Aachen collected 18,425 signatures in a petition calling for Asia Bibi’s release, an innocent woman unjustly accused.
