By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan

It is only the second time that an archbishop from Pakistan has joined the top hierarchy of the Catholic Church and become a cardinal, an event equally celebrated by the country’s tiny Christian community and the Muslim majority.

Archbishop Joseph Coutts of the Catholic Church of Karachi is among the 14 archbishops, who were elevated to the rank of cardinal by Pope Francis at the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday.

He is the second Pakistani granted this status after Cardinal Joseph Cordeiro, who was appointed in 1973.

Coutts, a doctor of philosophy who can speak several foreign languages, has actively been involved in inter-faith dialogue with Muslim scholars in the country.

“This is truly a historic and blessed moment for the Catholics of Pakistan,” Pamela Romail, an English teacher at Karachi’s reputed Saint Paul’s School, told Anadolu Agency.

His appointment, she said, would not only help the local Christian community in many ways but would also send a positive message about Pakistan to the world.

“Pakistan is often painted as a country with no religious freedom in terms of minorities. But the elevation of Father Coutts, who is a very down-to-earth person and actively involved in inter-faith dialogue, will suggest otherwise to the world,” Pamela opined.

She said Coutts’s appointment would help proritize the religious and community matters of Pakistani Catholics.

“Several matters pertaining to Pakistani Catholics are sent to the Vatican but there has always been an issue of priority due to overload of correspondence from across the world. But now, it’s like a family member is sitting over there to work to resolve the issues on priority basis,” she maintained.

Faheem Fredrick, a local journalist, said: “Usually, cardinals are appointed from Europe or other Christian-majority countries in the world. But this time, a cardinal has been appointed from a Christian-minority country, which has propelled the entire community to celebrate”.

“It will indeed tell the world how active and independent Pakistani Christian community is,” he maintained.

In the hierarchy of the Catholic Church, cardinals come immediately after the pope. One of the primary responsibilities of the cardinals is to elect a new pope when the position becomes vacant.

Christians are Pakistan’s largest minority, making up to 3 percent of the country’s total population of 210 million. A majority resides in Punjab, the country’s largest and richest province.

- Religious parties

The mainstream religious parties in the country have also welcomed the Coutts’s appointment.

“The entire country welcomes the appointment of a cardinal from Pakistan. It is tantamount to recognizing the Catholic Christians who have served to this country,” Asadullah Bhutto, the deputy chief of Jamat-e-Islami, told Anadolu Agency.

“Coutts has long been involved in inter-faith dialogue, and his elevation will further boost the efforts for promotion of religious harmony in the country,” Bhutto, a former parliamentarian and head of his party’s religious minorities wing, added.

Qari Usman, a central leader of another religious party Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), congratulated the Catholic community on the appointment of Coutts as cardinal, terming it an “honor for Pakistan”.

“The Christian community has long been contributing to the country’s development. I and my party fully recognize their services, and will always stand alongside them in need of hour,” Usman told Anadolu Agency.

Religious Affairs Minister Muhammad Yusuf Shaikh, who led the Pakistani delegation to the ceremony in the Vatican, also welcomed the elevation of Archbishop Coutts.

“The appointment of Archbishop Joseph Coutts is an honor for the entire nation,” a statement issued by Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry quoted Shaikh as saying.

“Pakistan is committed to cordial relations with the Holy See,” he added.