NEW DELHI, India -A letter containing a threat to assassinate Pope John Paul 11 has been received by a church in the south Indian city of Madras, the Press Trust of India said Sunday.
The archbishop of Madras said a one-sentence letter was received by a priest of the St. Thomas Mount Church from a group calling itself the “Peace Panthers,” Details about the group were not available,
The letter said, “Advise Pope not to enter or else we will shoot him,” the news agency the Press Trust said.
The pontiff, who was wounded in a May 13, 1981, assassination attempt, is scheduled to make a 10-day visit to India beginning February 1.
The Pope said Sunday he is going to India as a gesture of respect for all those who search for God and work for peace, whatever their religion.
‘The pontiff, speaking to 8,000 pilgrims and tourists in St. Peter’s ‘Square, praised India for its thousands of years of culture and its respect for cultural and religious plurality.
He described India as a “noble and a “great country” which has to respect its cultural and religious plurality.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 31, 1986
