Lahore: November 26, 2013. (Fr. Inayt Bernard) 31st October 2013: “I come from far to be with you to support and encourage you to stand firm in your faith and the Holy Father joins you in your joys and sorrows.” Cardinal Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples was talking to some 500 worshipers gathered at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Lahore during presiding over the Eucharist organized during the year of faith. Cardinal Filoni continued that we place Christ in the centre of our life because our faith is Christological. He is always with us according to his promise before ascending to heaven. He brings us to the Father in the spirit. As St. Paul says nothing can separate us from the love of God and the church shares this love of Jesus to all humankind. Referring to the past days in Iraq, he said that Christians would ask him “Fr. please take us out of Iraq”. He said he would tell them that their presence in Iraq is the like the Salt of the earth and light to the world. God has a purpose to keep you in Pakistan. He stressed to let the light shine to the others and become they become salt for all. He ended by asking the local church to promote inter-religious dialogue as the charity is not only for friends but for all. He wished that the church will continue to be the witness in spite of difficulties faced by the faithful. He imparted the Papal blessing upon the clergy and the faithful and asked to stand firm in the year of faith. All Catholic Bishops, with the exception of Bishop Andrew Francis due to his illness, were present during the mass while bishop elect Joseph Arshad for Faisalabad got special attention and words of appreciation from the Cardinal were encouraging who said after the thanksgiving words of Bishop Sebastian Francis Shaw OFM, apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Lahore that Bishop Arshad is the son of the soil and from Lahore and this way he is an honour for Lahore and he is given to the diocese of Faisalabad. At the end of the mass Bishop Sebastian thanked the bishops, religious, clergy and the faithful. He said that it is the courage of Cardinal Filoni that he opted to come to Pakistan for the consecration of Bishop Joseph Arshad at the instable situation of the country. He made a special thanks to the Holy Father in the person of the Cardinal that he showed his concern by his arrival to Pakistan. He assured his prayerful cooperation to the universal church. After the mass Cardinal Filoni went to the lunch at St. Anthony’s High School next door where he unveiled the plaque at the opening of the college. He met priests and religious before joining them for lunch. He also had the short meeting with the members of Pontifical Mission Societies and Major Seminary rectors in the Archbishop’s Dining room.