POPE FRANCIS: CHRISTIANS MURDERED BY MUSLIMS IN ALGERIA ARE A TESTAMENT TO GOD’S PLAN FOR PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE OF CHRISTIANS & MUSLIMS

republished below in full unedited for informational, educational and research purposes:

“The lives of 19 religious men and women martyred during the Algerian
civil war are a testament to God’s plan of love and peaceful
coexistence between Christians and Muslims, Pope Francis said.”

A more serious analyst would note that they were, after all,
murdered, so they might not be that great a testimony to peaceful
coexistence between Christians and Muslims. But this is the Pope who has said
that “Muslim terrorism does not exist.” So he affirms that “by
beatifying our 19 brothers and sisters, the church wishes to bear
witness to her desire to continue to work for dialogue, harmony and
friendship,” ignoring the fact that the murder of these people drowned
their desire for “dialogue, harmony and friendship” in their own blood.
There may be some room for dialogue, but only if it is informed and
realistic, not based on wishful thinking and willful ignorance.

“Leave them; they are blind guides. And if a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” (Matthew 15:14)

“Algerian martyrs bear witness to Christian-Muslim peace, Pope Francis says,” by Catholic News Service, December 10, 2018:

VATICAN – The lives of 19 religious men and women
martyred during the Algerian civil war are a testament to God’s plan of
love and peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims, Pope
Francis said….

Both Christians and Muslims in Algeria “have been victims of the same
violence for having lived, with faithfulness and respect for each
other, their duties as believers and citizens in this blessed land. It
is for them, too, that we pray and express our grateful tribute,” the
Pope said.

Among those who were beatified were Blessed Christian de Cherge and
six of his fellow Trappists – Fathers Christophe Lebreton, Bruno
Lemarchand and Celestin Ringeard as well as Brothers Luc Dochier, Michel
Fleury and Paul Favre-Miville – who were murdered in 1996 by members of
the Armed Islamic Group in Tibhirine, Algeria….

Several months after their deaths, Blessed Pierre Claverie, bishop of
Oran, was assassinated along with his driver by an explosive device.
According to the website of the Dominican Order of Preachers, his death
was mourned also by Muslims who considered him “their bishop.”

Pope Francis said that all Algerians are heirs of the great message
of love that began with St. Augustine of Hippo and continued with the
martyred religious men and women “at a time when all people are seeking
to advance their aspiration to live together in peace.”

“By beatifying our 19 brothers and sisters, the church wishes to bear
witness to her desire to continue to work for dialogue, harmony and
friendship,” the Pope said. “We believe that this event, which is
unprecedented in your country, will draw a great sign of brotherhood in
the Algerian sky for the whole world.”