The greatest fear of Benghazi Bishop Sylvester Magro, who has been faithfully serving in Libya throughout the escalating unrest, is that of being caught in the midst of a sudden bomb or missile attack.

Speaking from the safety of Malta, where he has stopped en route to the Vatican for the Regional Bishops’ Conference of North Africa, Mgr Magro tells Times of Malta about his fear of bombardments.

“When in war, the factions move to different areas, they lose, they re-acquire lands and claim new ones. And you think to yourself – we’re next, our area is next.

“I’m terrified whenever there are bombardments. Whenever we heard those massive explosions, we would say – this is it. But so far we’ve been spared, thanks to God’s mercy.”

Mgr Magro has been serving at the Benghazi Vicariate for the past 17 years. However, he was evacuated from the Benghazi church four months ago after the area became a battle zone and he is now living in a safer area in the periphery of Benghazi.

On Saturday, the day after Mgr Magro flew from Labraq airport to Tripoli, the airport was hit by rockets purported to have been fired by the IS (Islamic State).

How strong is the fear of the IS, especially in light of the alleged beheading of the Coptic Christians?

“You can’t really ever put your mind at ease on such a situation. But it will take time for them to truly infiltrate Libya and to organise themselves.

“Everyone is afraid – but it’s not just about the IS but about the war in its entirety. Gunfire and bombs terrify us all – citizens and foreigners alike.”

The majority of the Christians in Benghazi were Filipino nurses, he added, whose services towards the injured were very much needed.

“I think the fact that they are nurses offers them more security than if they were mere Christians in another profession.”

The chief of staff of the Libyan Air Force, Maj al-Jaroushi, has claimed that the IS in Libya is using Benghazi’s Catholic Church as an “arms depots”.

However, Mgr Magro is not aware of such a situation.

“But we don’t really know what’s happening at the church because we’re so far away. We can’t go there any longer.

“We were evacuated when the fighting was drawing closer.

“We didn’t actually see any of the fighting but we could hear the bombs and missiles approaching us.”

Despite the paralysing fear, what motivates him to remain in Libya?

“Our Lord Jesus Christ teaches us that the shepherd must tend to his flock. I can’t turn away from those who approach me for guidance, from those who need psychological help.

“I don’t know what will happen. But I know that I cannot just abandon them.”

On Saturday he will be meeting the Pope for the bishops’ meeting held every five years, where bishops from around the world report to the Pope on their dioceses. He will also be joining the Regional Episcopal Conference of North Africa.

After the meetings come to an end, he hopes to return to Benghazi.

“If the airports are still there, I will return because that’s where my mission is. When people cry to me ‘don’t leave us alone’, I find it impossible to turn my back on them and leave.

“I hope to do my best in these difficult circumstances.”

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