Positions held
- Head of the national interreligious commission for ecumenism
- Head of the national commission for the sacred liturgy and for the Catholic liturgy in Urdu, Pakistan's national language
- Member of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue in Rome and of the International Commission on English in the Liturgy
- Member of the Pakistani government's committee for religious minorities
- Honorary chairman of the Centre for Human Rights and chairman of the Justice and Peace Commission
With the kind permission of the association Friedenszeichen e.V., here is a text that captures the stages of Bishop Andrew Francis's life since his meeting with Father Burkhard Nogga †, who served under him for 20 years. As a member of Friedenszeichen, I was privileged to witness the bishop's work, especially in Germany, from the very beginning. – Reiner Wettcke
Twenty years full of gratitude
For twenty years our association Friedenszeichen e.V. supported Bishop Andrew. As a young priest he often stood in during the holidays at a church near us. He spoke several languages fluently, but in Germany his sermons needed translating from English. In the summer of 1997 our chairwoman, Mrs Grundberger, was invited to translate. She had no idea that this first meeting was the beginning of a long friendship.
Appointed bishop by Pope John Paul II in 2000
In the Jubilee Year 2000, Pope John Paul II appointed Dr Andrew Francis Bishop of Multan. We were invited to his episcopal ordination in Lahore as guests. From then on we supported his richly blessed work. Every year he stayed at our association's house in Germany, and we helped him with contacts to many people, parishes and aid organisations such as Missio and Aid to the Church in Need. Many friendships grew, especially with Father Dr Richard Kocher, programme director of Radio Horeb. Again and again Bishop Andrew spoke to the listeners about his work and his country. He was an important voice for the persecuted Church.
Our visit to Pakistan
Several times we were guests in the Diocese of Multan. With the bishop we visited the often widely scattered Christian communities. We rode camels through the desert, sailed on the Indus in a fishing boat at sunset and travelled by ox cart and rickshaw. Time and again Christian families invited us in, and we were overwhelmed by their warmth. We let them know that they are not alone, that we stand by them in their need and pray for them.
The worldwide scale of the persecution of Christians today is sadly hardly a topic in Western media. Through our friendship with Bishop Andrew we were personally affected and, with a large circle of friends, were able to provide much help. In the desert of Multan we met Christians with strong faith and great love – they strengthened our own faith, as if we had been taken back to the time of the Acts of the Apostles.
A bishop for everyone
The bishop did not help only Christians; in times of need he never made a distinction by faith or origin. He was there for everyone – especially during the great floods and the earthquake in the north of the country. Many families received tents and warm blankets, and an ambulance donated from Austria cared for the sick. Children and young people were especially close to his heart. He founded numerous schools to give the children of the poor a better life through good education. Muslim and Christian children were to be raised together in tolerance and love of neighbour. It was Bishop Andrew's great dream to build a new society of humanity through religious dialogue. He always sought good relations with the leaders of the mosques and with those responsible in politics and society.
A bridge between Christians and Muslims
Bishop Andrew was much loved, and not only among Christians. His words went to the heart and changed people. Many Muslims also came to the services and healing prayers in Multan Cathedral, and many experienced healing from illness and suffering through his prayer. His life recalls that of the great apostles – yet he too faced the threat of falling victim to terrorism.
When Christian churches and villages were burned and Christians persecuted, injured or killed, it was the bishop who called for forgiveness and reconciliation. He always worked against an escalation of violence in which mutual revenge would have caused even more harm.
The bishop in Germany and on Radio Horeb
Bishop Andrew came to Germany many times, visiting numerous parishes and raising funds for his projects. He was often a guest on Radio Horeb, where he shared a warm friendship with the programme director, Father Dr Richard Kocher. He loved the station and always stressed what a valuable service it provides for evangelisation in our country. Every visit by the bishop was a very special encounter. I personally remember a confession with him in which his fatherly manner was especially evident – he was an outstanding pastor and a father to all.
The great flood
When the Indus burst its banks in 2010 and flooded much of the Diocese of Multan, the bishop himself waded through the water to save lives. Through the relationships we had built over the years in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, a great deal of relief and donations reached the flood victims; we distributed part of it ourselves during our visit. Right at the start of the disaster, the diocese and Caritas Multan set up a disaster relief service that worked in every area. Food, household goods, clothing, blankets, tents, water filters and medical care were urgently needed.
The accident
Three times over the years there were attempts on Bishop Andrew's life; each time he was spared. But his great work came to a tragic end in the autumn of 2012 when, on the night after his return from Rome, a car rammed his vehicle and seriously injured him. The drivers of the other car were never identified. Our association appealed for donations, and the bishop was able to receive treatment at a specialist clinic in Germany.
Death after long suffering
His condition improved, but he remained paraplegic and dependent on care; a year later he resigned from office. In 2017 his health deteriorated, and on 6 June 2017 he died after almost five years of suffering. Thousands attended his funeral. His grave beside Multan Cathedral, which he had renovated, has become a place of pilgrimage. Following the call of Pope John Paul II, Bishop Andrew always worked for a civilisation of love, tolerance and justice.
A tribute from his brother Joe Francis
“Despite all the difficult circumstances, Andrew was never discouraged or disappointed by life. He did not complain and always kept his composure. His confident, peaceful face, his strong voice and his mischievous smile will always stay with me. My brother was a man of prayer who loved peace and built many bridges through his work for interreligious dialogue. Even in the most difficult situations he stood up for peace and justice and so prevented much revenge and harm. He was a gifted speaker and writer, a bold and revolutionary thinker.”
