«Bishop Giovanni Martinelli is a little giant. A brave person who, despite the serious health problems besetting him for two years now, continues to “doggedly” stay on in his Libya, and with love take care of his sheep, now just a handful of Filipinos working in the hospitals as nurses and who “cannot” leave the country.

He started by saying, “I have nothing special to say – we have become orphans of the ambassador who has left. But I repeat, I have nothing to say; we are here because Jesus wants us here. I am at the service of this population, and not for any kind of power.”

How about the Catholic community? The Christian communities are still here, we are fine.”

Are you serene? “We have just celebrated Mass. God is with us, what should we fear?”

Is also Fr. Sylvester still in Bengasi? “Of course – Bishop Martinelli answered – also he says that we can stay on to be close to the people who are suffering so much.”

What do you forecast for the future? “It is very hard to make a forecast, or rather, it would be better not to since we had forecasted events that did not come about. We live day by day, or rather, moment after moment. The present moment embraces all. In that moment I encounter Jesus, my brothers, and love these people.”

What’s the situation like in Tripoli? “It seems to be quite calm, they haven’t prohibited anything. The atmosphere is serene and pacific. It is not dangerous to move around during the day. Of course we stay home in the evenings.”

Afraid? “For the moment we haven’t been threatened directly. Let’s see how things develop. They may behead us… but I am willing to deliver it on a plate, since I am here to die for my people.”

What role do you think Italy can play in this situation? “Italy has been very involved, especially the Ambassador, to keep the channels for dialogue open between the different tribes and factions. As of now Italy has taken up a propaganda for peace.”

And what about a foreign intervention? “I don’t think this is a solution.”

In 2011, when there were winds of war, you said that if this happened, Libya would risk the explosion of tribal and political divisions. Unfortunately the Europeans seemed to be certain that elective democracy would positively contaminate the country… “Prudence would have been advisable, then and now. International diplomacy should do its part to allow various pieces of Libya to assemble. We shouldn’t impose political visions that do not belong to these people.”

He then concluded: “If one comes here only with arms and without a strong will to dialogue, it would be useless. You have to come here to love the people, not to target the interests of the western world, or exploit the petrol and other resources. One must come only if pushed by the desire to dialogue with the Muslims. I am here for this, and not for anything else.»

Source: New City online