“I am still a Capuchin at Heart,” says Lahore Archbishop on Homecoming Visit

On April 23, in a significant homecoming, Archbishop Khalid Rehmat of the Lahore Archdiocese visited St. Mary’s Catholic Church at the Capuchin Custody House in Gulberg, Lahore, where he had previously served as parish priest and later as Custos of the Capuchin Order until January 2021, when Pope Francis appointed him Vicar Apostolic of Quetta.

Upon his arrival, the community welcomed the Archbishop with a traditional ceremony.

In a gesture of local honour and respect, he was presented with a turban, a symbol of high leadership and responsibility in Pakistani culture. “I am still a Capuchin at heart,” the archbishop told the gathered friars and parishioners, acknowledging that his formation within the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin (OFM Cap) remains the foundation of his episcopal service.

Archbishop Rehmat presided over a Eucharistic celebration with his fellow priests and students.

During his homily, he reflected on the “marvellous things” the Almighty has done in his life, referencing the Magnificat. He shared memories of his time at St. Mary’s, where he was known for his dedication to pastoral care and communication, having previously served as the editor of the diocesan magazine Catholic Naqeeb. He credited the community at the Custody House for helping shape the vision of service he now carries for the entire archdiocese.

In observance of Earth Day and the global “Year of St. Francis,” which marks the 800th anniversary of the saint’s death, the Archbishop led a symbolic tree-planting ceremony on the church grounds.

The Archbishop connected the environmental act to the spiritual future of the Church. “This tree stands as a sign of our need for more vocations,” he stated, noting that just as a tree requires care to grow, so too does the call to religious life require a supportive community. He urged families to encourage their children to consider the priesthood and religious life as a way to serve both the Creator and creation.

The Archbishop also inaugurated a newly constructed parish office, designed to facilitate better communication between the clergy and the parishioners by providing a dedicated space for counselling and administrative support.

Fr. Henry Paul, a Capuchin friar, expressed the community’s joy at the visit. “Having the Archbishop return to the parish where he once served is a moment of profound encouragement,” Fr. Paul said. “His focus on the environment today reminds us all of our Franciscan mission to be stewards of creation.”

Fr. Ijaz Bashir, the current Custos of the Capuchin Order in Pakistan, also spoke, reaffirming the order’s commitment to working in close harmony with the Lahore Archdiocese to address the spiritual and social needs of the people.