“I fully understand your disappointment,” Mauritian Cardinal to Muslims on Eid Celebration

“This (day of prayer) brought us together as brothers in humanity, each with his own beliefs and rituals, to implore the same God and ask him to have mercy on us in this tragedy with terrible economic and social consequences,” the 78-year-old Prelate has said in reference to the common prayer on May 14.

Mauritius, located about 1,930 kilometers off the coast of Africa is a religiously-diverse nation. Of the 1.2 million population, 49 percent are Hindus, 32 percent Christians, 17 percent Muslims and 0.4 percent Buddhists.

Catholicism is the dominant Christian denomination with 26.2 percent followers, spread across the diocese of Port-louis and the Apostolic Vicariate of Rodrigues.

“On this feast of Eid, I pray with you the Almighty and Merciful God, asking him to protect our country and to put in our hearts a spirit of wisdom, courage and brotherhood, so that we can overcome this health and economic crisis together that upsets us all,” Cardinal Piat wrote May 21.

“In these special circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic, I would like, on my own behalf and on behalf of all my Christian brothers and sisters, to wish you, despite everything, a beautiful and joyous feast of Eid,” the Mauritian Cardinal concluded.

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Following the extension of the nationwide curfew in the country to June 1, the Cardinal has issued directives to guide pastoral activities scheduled for May 15-31.

In the guidelines issued Thursday May 21, burials are to be done “directly at the cemetery” with not more than ten people and with mourners observing social distancing. 

The Cardinal Maurice has cautioned against having burial ceremonies in the homes of the deceased “because it will be difficult to meet the sanitary conditions required.”

“The sacrament of the sick at home is authorized provided that the strict sanitary conditions are respected (wearing a mask and gloves),” the Prelate also directed.

He further directed, “As for pastoral activities and ceremonies at the church after the 1^st June 2020, the diocese will have to wait for new government regulations.”