Christian and Muslim leaders gathered at Lahore, Pakistan’s Badshahi Mosque during the overlapping seasons of Lent and Ramadan to pray for peace as violence along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border continues to disrupt daily life.
The interreligious meeting, organized by the Peace Center in Lahore, brought representatives of both communities together for prayer and an iftar meal breaking the Ramadan fast, according to a March 2 report from Vatican News.
“It is intended to be a sign of peace and unity, especially amid the war between Afghanistan and Pakistan,” said Father Asif Sardar, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Lahore.
Fr. Sardar described the meeting as a reaffirmation of the communities’ “shared commitment to peace in this difficult time,” saying that fasting and prayer should lead believers to promote justice, reconciliation, and assistance for those in need.
Father James Channan, O.P., a Dominican priest and director of the Peace Center, joined Abdul Khabir Azad, the mosque’s prayer leader, in calling for deeper ties between Christians and Muslims in Pakistan. According to the report, both leaders emphasized shared values present in both Ramadan and Lent, such as reflection and sacrifice, and pledged to pray together for stability in Pakistan and an end to global conflicts.
“We have sent a clear message: faith can be a bridge of unity and not a wall of division,” Fr. Channan said.
Separately, the Catholic community in Lahore held a candlelight procession and prayer vigil at the Church of St. Pio of Pietrelcina, offering prayers for peace at the border. Religious sisters, clergy, and parishioners prayed the Stations of the Cross as part of the observance.
Father Qaisar Feroz, executive secretary of the Social Communications Commission of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Pakistan, said participants condemned the violence and urged a ceasefire through dialogue.
“The extremist violence of the Taliban is a destructive ideology,” he said, adding that a joint commitment from believers is needed to halt the bloodshed and transform the situation.
He also called on the international community to take responsibility for helping bring an end to the conflict, saying peace should be “the common goal and interest of all humanity.”