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WORLD/NATION I 7 DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER I SEPTEMBER 25, 2013 Peace the only solution, pope says in wake of Pakistan bombing BY ELISE HARRIS ROME (CNA/EWTN News)— Pope Francis condemned a massive suicide bombing at a Christian Church in Pakistan over the weekend, calling the violence unacceptable and urging peace efforts in the region. "Today, in Pakistan, because of a wrong choice, a decision of hatred, of war, there was an attack in which … people died," he said. "This choice cannot stand." At around noon Sept. 22, two suicide bombers blew themselves up in the midst of the hundreds of worshippers leaving the historic All Saints Church in Kohati Gate, a heavily populated area of Peshawar, Pakistan. Witnesses of the attack, which killed at least 80 and wounded more than 120 people, said they heard two blasts from the bombs, the second being more powerful than the first. Suicide vests were later found outside of the church. It is reported that the militant group Jandullah, linked to the Pakistani Taliban, said they carried out the double bombing in retaliation for U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan's tribal north-west. This attack comes as the latest in a series of assaults on Pakistani Christians, who represent about 1.6 percent of the country's overwhelmingly Muslim population. Reports say that there are about 200,000 Christians in the province, of whom 70,000 lived in Peshawar. Both religious and political leaders have condemned the attack, however angry crowds took to the streets in denouncement of the state's failure to protect minorities. On Sept. 22 the demonstrators blocked roads in Peshawar, Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, and reports say that Archbishop Aquila reflects on courage of Syrian Christians DES MOINES, Iowa—The Year of Faith is coming to an end this November, and in considering what comes next for the Church, the Denver archbishop suggests looking to the courageous witness of Syrian Christians for some answers. "For many Catholics," Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila said, the Year of Faith "has been a time of renewal and grace. But for many in the Middle East—especially Christians—this time has been a period of extreme trial." The archbishop addressed his remarks to the knights and ladies of the Northern Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre at its annual meeting in Des Moines, Iowa, on Sept. 21. Archbishop Aquila spoke to the Order of the Syrian town of Maalula, where "a version of Aramaic—the language Jesus spoke, can still be heard today." "In the last two weeks," he recounted, "the inhabitants of Maalula have been on the front lines of the fighting between the troops of President Bashar al-Assad and rebels who are trying to topple his regime." "On Sept. 7," he continued, "armed rebels affiliated with the Islamist groups Al-Nusra Front and Al-Qaeda descended on the town and began entering houses. As they went through Maalula, the rebels defaced any sacred images they found in the homes. "In one house, the militants found three Greek Catholic men and one woman: Mikhael Taalab, his cousin Antoun Taalab, Sarkis el Zakhm, who was Mikhael's grandson, and the woman who related the tragedy to Fides, using the name 'A.' The rebels demanded that everyone present convert to Islam or face death. "Sarkis el Zakhm, the grandson, responded: 'I am a Christian and if you want to kill me because I am a Christian, do it.' Sarkis, together with the two other men in the house, was killed in cold blood. Somehow, the woman was only injured and rallies are also expected in major cities on Monday. The attack has been described as the first assault of its kind on Christians in recent memory, and is thought to be the deadliest ever attack on Pakistan's Christians. As a result, the Pakistani government has announced three days of mourning. In unprepared remarks made at the end of his Sept. 22 one-day trip to the city of Cagliari on the WASHINGTON PARK'S BEST KEPT SECRET Some of the best award winning food in town! 20 HDTV's to watch your favorite team Or enjoy the patio! Italian island of Sardinia, Pope Francis referred to the attack as an act of "hatred and war," saying that violence such as this "cannot stand." "It serves nothing. Only the path of peace can build a better world." The lights on the dome of St. Peter's Basilica were dark on Sunday night, reportedly out of remembrance and mourning for the victims and their families. 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