The Maltese Bishop of Benghazi, Mgr Sylvester Magro, says he will be returning to his flock, despite his fears 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 said: “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 hear those massive explosions, we would say – this is it. But so far we’ve been spared, thanks to God’s mercy.”

Mgr Magro 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 he 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 in such a situation. But it will take time for them to truly infiltrate Libya and to organise themselves," Mgr Magro said.

“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.”

He said the majority of the Christians in Benghazi were Filipino nurses 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.”

Mgr Magro also said he was unaware of the Benghazi Catholic Church being used as an Isis arms depot, as claimed by Libyan Air Force chief Maj al-Jaroushi.

“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.

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