John Pontifex, Author at ZENIT

Articles By John Pontifex

Great witness of faith in Pakistan: parishioners gather for mass outside their burned church

“When we went in, local Muslims stopped and stared wide-eyed. They had very angry faces and began cursing us and using abusive language.”

Aug 21, 2023 21:08

John Pontifex

Local Church•Persecuted Christians

Pakistan: 21 churches razed to the ground, 1,000 Christians affected. Islamists attack images of Jesus and Mary

1,000 frightened and homeless Christians forced to sleep rough. Number of churches and chapels targeted rises to 21. Archbishop: Christians are ‘2nd class citizens to be terrorised at will’. Police act to enforce law and order

Aug 17, 2023 21:40

John Pontifex

Persecuted Christians

Christian released after 8 years in jail for unintentionally burning newspaper with Islamic phrases

Humayun Allahrakha (formerly known as Humayun Faisal Masih), now 32, was burning newspaper in Sanda, a town in Lahore district, in May 2015 when Muslim onlookers accused him of blasphemy, claiming that the papers contained verses of the Qur’an.

Apr 03, 2023 07:46

John Pontifex

Justice and Peace•Local Church•Persecuted Christians

Haiti: Second kidnapped priest released

Religious superior: ‘When will this spate of violence end?’.

Mar 26, 2023 04:05

John Pontifex

Local Church•Religious Freedom•Testimonies

King Charles III meets survivors of persecution

The King listened as Father Alfred Ebalu, a survivor of abduction, death threats and violence in Nigeria, highlighted growing persecution of Christians and others in Africa’s most populous country.

Dec 09, 2022 20:14

John Pontifex

Persecuted Christians

Rosary Inspires Release of Priest Kidnapped in Nigeria

Father Valentine Ezeagu Freed 36 Hours After Abduction

Dec 18, 2020 01:38

John Pontifex

Persecuted Christians

After 11 Years, Imran Finally Walks Free

Case of Persecuted Christian Delayed 70 Times

Dec 15, 2020 15:02

John Pontifex

Persecuted Christians

Christian Woman in Pakistan Murdered for Refusing to Convert and Marry

Growing Concerns for Safety of Christian and Hindu Girls

Dec 04, 2020 16:42

John Pontifex

Persecuted Christians

Human Rights Group Decries Slow Pakistani Justice System

‘Seven Waster Years’

Oct 15, 2020 00:53

John Pontifex

Religious Freedom

Pakistani Girl in Controversy Receives Death Threats

Interview with Aid to the Church in Need

Sep 02, 2020 16:12

John Pontifex

Charities and Volunteering

Order of St Lazarus Helps Bind up Beirut’s Wounds

ACN Providing Emergency Aid

Aug 28, 2020 14:45

John Pontifex

Justice and Peace

Pakistani Girl Escapes from ‘House of Hell’

14-Year-Old Maira Tells of Being Drugged, Raped and Blackmailed

Aug 25, 2020 13:28

John Pontifex

After WYD, Pope receives Portuguese Prime Minister at Vatican

During the cordial discussions at the Secretariat of State, they appreciated the effective collaboration in the organization of World Youth Day and the visit of His Holiness to Portugal from August 2 to 6, 2023

Pope attends surprise meeting of priests in Rome area where murders have occurred

Pope Francis chose to visit this prefecture because two serious events have recently occurred here: Michelle Maria Causo and Rossella Nappini were murdered in recent months.