As Chairman of the International Affairs Department of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, the Bishop of Clifton, Declan Lang, has written to the Apostolic Vicar of Tripoli, HE Mgr Martinelli to express the Conference’s deep sense of Christian solidarity, concern and prayers for the peoples of the Middle East and North Africa.
In his letter, Bishop Lang writes:
“As you might well imagine, Libya has been very much at the forefront of our thoughts and it is with a mixture of hope and concern that we have followed all the radical changes taking place from its eastern to its western shores.
“Today, as Libya experiences freedom, I join you in praying that the country’s future will be one in which Libyans of all beliefs will be able to live in peace and unity.”
HE Mgr Giovanni Innocenzo Martinelli
Apostolic Vicar of Tripoli
Titular Bishop of Tabuda
Tripoli – Libya, 6 September 2011
Your Excellency:
Fraternal greetings from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.
It is with a sense of deep Christian solidarity and overall interest that we follow the events taking place in different parts of the Middle East and North Africa.
As you might well imagine, Libya has been very much at the forefront of our thoughts and it is with a mixture of hope and concern that we have followed all the radical changes taking place from its eastern to its western shores.
Today, as Libya experiences freedom, I join you in praying that the country’s future will be one in which Libyans of all beliefs will be able to live in peace and unity.
Conscious that the beginnings of the Church in Libya go back to the origins of Christianity itself with Simon of Cyrene, I assure Your Excellency that your ministry as well as the well-being of all Christians in Libya remain in our prayers.
We beseech the Almighty to preserve Libya for its people, and assure you of our prayerful thoughts,
+ Declan Lang
Bishop of Clifton
Chair, International Affairs Department
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales
