In the sky of Poland, there were two planes overflying the country. The first one had Pope Francis on board coming from Rome and heading to meet the youths of the world in the country of his friend John Paul II. The second plane was returning from Warsaw and heading to France with a bishop on board, who had get ready for a trip to Poland a year ago, but circumstances forced him to return to the Ryan Parish.
On his way to Poland, Pope Francis says, "The world is at war, the world is at war because it has lost its peace… but what we are living through is not a religious war. It is a war of interests, over money, nature’s resources and the domination of peoples.” He clearly asserts that “religions, all religions, seek peace. It’s others who want war.” He adds: “The truth is that a holy priest was killed just as he was offering a prayer for peace. He is one victim, but how many Christians, how many innocent people, how many children…?”
Therefore, the exceptional circumstances is the death--or rather martyrdom of a priest, whose throat was slit with a knife at the church--made French Archbishop Dominique Lebrun hastily book a ticket for a return trip from Poland. He says: “Fr. Jacque Hamel, a priest from my parish, has been killed. I have to return to convey condolences to my people and arrange a requiem service for the octogenarian priest.”
Further to what happened at the French church, are we at a global religious war? It is definitely a war, but it is not religious. It is mean, yes, but God has nothing to do with it. All religions, according to Pope Francis, call for peace as well as for the dissemination of the love and fraternity exactly as the youths of the world, including Arabs and Jordanians, who gather like a wonderful mosaic designed to celebrate the World Youth Day. May the whole world enjoy this harmony, this joy and this spontaneous enthusiasm--which is not politically-oriented towards violence, killings, blowing up or rather labeling others as infidels--and adhere to the policy of the murdered elderly priest, namely love and forgiveness. Thus, the priest who returned to France said: “There is only one choice before us, namely prayer and brotherly relations among all the people.” He also addressed the youths of the world saying: “Do not lower your arms. Raise your arms in prayer so that the culture of love would prevail in the world.’’
News reports indicated that this very Church, the scene of the crime, had offered years ago a piece of land for building the mosque of the township. Yet, those who have evil hearts, that act in the darkness, and those who violate the teachings of religions still insist on conducting malignant deeds, that are void of any humanitarian sentiments, and on spreading the poisons of schism, discord, and infighting along religious and sectarian lines.
Undoubtedly, we are called upon to concentrate anew on the crux of the issue, namely education, knowing that those who carried out this cowardly act at a place of worship are under 20 years of age (18- and 19-year-old). Who would ever think that they would break into the church and carry out this evil deed? The question that arises is why the French security authorities were not informed of these evil and inhumane trends, which are definitely not religious but rather deviant. In which schools have these people been educated? Why did the neighbors fail to play the role of policemen or rather security men to forestall crime and killing using knives and cleavers? This is a mistake committed by the citizens of France for they have, as well as those with good intentions in this messy world, “to monitor” whoever takes a deviant path of killing and destruction.
Reverting to the plane which the Pope boarded heading for Poland, it carried a message to the youths which says, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” While the plane boarded by the sad bishop returning to his parish and people, carried the message, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do”. The main horrible difference between what Lord Jesus had said and what is being said nowadays is that the criminals nowadays are aware of what they are doing and they do commit their crimes with premeditation and in cold blood. Undoubtedly, they do not represent humanity, any religion, or even any moral value.
O Lord, deliver us from evil.
