"The sanctity of human life is a gift from God, and every child, especially a defenseless newborn, deserves the highest standard of protection and care," Bishop Shukardin said.
More than 200 children, including boys and girls aged 10 to 12 dressed in white, received the Sacrament of First Holy Communion at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, on August 16, 2026.
Bishop of Islamabad-Rawalpindi, Archbishop Joseph Arshad has called for urgent and coordinated action to eliminate child labor, describing it as a grave violation of human dignity that deprives millions of children of their right to education, safety, and a hopeful future.
Archbishop Joseph Arshad of Islamabad-Rawalpindi has called on Catholics in Pakistan to deepen their devotion to the Holy Eucharist and become living witnesses to Christ’s love as the Church prepares to celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi this Sunday.
Young people must be at the center of the Church’s mission in Pakistan because they represent the majority of both the country’s population and the Christian community, according to Archbishop Joseph Arshad following the Pakistani bishops’ recent ad limina visit to Rome.
On April 24, Archbishop Joseph Arshad visited the “House of Wisdom” in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, a residential formation center run by the Archdiocese of Islamabad-Rawalpindi, to review students’ progress and reaffirm the Church’s commitment to higher education as a pathway for social and community development.
